Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-3101.2

providers - Certain acts not condoned, authorized or approved.

A. The purpose of the Oklahoma Advance Directive Act is to:

1. Recognize the right of individuals to control some aspects

of their own medical care and treatment, including but not limited

to the right to decline medical treatment or to direct that it be

withdrawn, even if death ensues;

2. Recognize that the right of individuals to control some

aspects of their own medical treatment is protected by the

Constitution of the United States and overrides any obligation the

physician and other health care providers may have to render care or

to preserve life and health;

3. Recognize that decisions concerning one's medical treatment

involve highly sensitive, personal issues that do not belong in

court, even if the individual is incapacitated, so long as a proxy

decision-maker can make the necessary decisions based on the known

intentions, personal views, or best interests of the individual. If

evidence of the individual's wishes is sufficient, those wishes

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 1459

should control; if there is not sufficient evidence of the

individual's wishes, the proxy's decisions should be based on the

proxy's reasonable judgment about the individual's values and what

the individual's wishes would be based upon those values. The

proper role of the court is to settle disputes and to act as the

proxy decision-maker of last resort when no other proxy is

authorized by the individual or is otherwise authorized by law;

4. Restate and clarify the law to ensure that the individual's

advance directive for health care will continue to be honored during

incapacity without court involvement; and

5. Encourage and support health care instructions by the

individual in advance of incapacity and the delegation of decision-

making powers to a health care proxy.

B. To be sure that the individual's health care instructions

and proxy decision-making will be effective, the Oklahoma Advance

Directive Act also includes necessary and appropriate protection for

proxies and health care providers who rely in good faith on the

instructions of the individual and the decisions of an authorized

proxy.

C. The Oklahoma Advance Directive Act does not condone,

authorize, or approve mercy killing, assisted suicide, or

euthanasia.