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medical care and treatment, including but not limited to the right to decline medical treatment or to direct that it be withdrawn, even if death ensues;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 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.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 114, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 171, § 4, emerg. eff. May 17, 2006.