Medicine has advanced rapidly over the past 100 years. People are living longer, sometimes with multiple chronic diseases. When they develop life-limiting conditions, some already old and frail, achieving balance between intervening too much and too little can be a huge challenge. In many areas of the UK treatment escalation plans (TEPs) are replacing do not resuscitate orders. The aims of this article are to explore the use of TEPs and the role of advance care planning, covering the legal framework and providing some practical guidance about how to approach this important conversation.