Many people have strong beliefs about whether a person should have the right to die when they choose—to end a person’s own perceived pain and suffering, especially when they are terminally ill. These beliefs are often rooted in religion, morals, ethics, law (government-made and natural), and spirituality. Depending on a person’s beliefs or point of view, the issue and related laws may also be referred to as death with dignity, assisted suicide, aid in dying, physician assisted suicide, euthanasia, end of life options, and patient choice and control at the end of life.

Currently eight states and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) have laws (statutes) that permit persons to choose when to end their lives under certain circumstances. These states include (1) California, (2) Colorado, (3) Hawaii, (4) Maine, (5) New Jersey, (6) Oregon, (7) Vermont, and (8) Washington. And although the state of Montana does not have such a statute its supreme court has ruled that nothing in the state’s law prohibits a physician from honoring a terminally ill but mentally competent patient’s request to prescribe medication to expedite the patient’s death. In states without such laws a physician or other person’s act of assisting a person with suicide is generally subject to criminal prosecution for murder or other criminal charges.

In Oklahoma, the practice of assisted suicide, euthanasia, or any form of aid in dying is illegal. Oklahoma law does not recognize a right to die, and any assistance in ending one's life is subject to criminal prosecution. The state's statutes align with the majority of U.S. states that prohibit any form of assistance in the death of another person, classifying such acts under homicide or assisted suicide laws. Unlike the states mentioned, such as California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the special case of Montana, Oklahoma does not have a Death with Dignity statute or similar legislation that allows terminally ill patients to end their lives under specific circumstances. Therefore, an attorney advising on end-of-life options in Oklahoma would caution against any actions that could be construed as assisting in suicide or euthanasia, as these could lead to serious legal consequences, including charges of murder or manslaughter.