§ 63-2-551. Appropriate pain management - High dosages of controlled dangerous drugs.

A.  Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled dangerous drugs have useful and legitimate medical and scientific purposes and are necessary to maintain the health and general welfare of the people of this state.

B.  The State of Oklahoma recognizes that principles of quality medical practice dictate that the people of the State of Oklahoma have access to appropriate and effective pain relief.  The appropriate application of up-to-date knowledge and treatment modalities can serve to improve the quality of life for those patients who suffer from pain as well as to reduce the morbidity, and costs associated with untreated or inappropriately treated pain.  The State of Oklahoma encourages physicians to view effective pain management as a part of quality medical practice for all patients with pain, acute or chronic.  It is especially important for patients who experience pain as a result of terminal illness.

C.  If, in the judgment of the medical doctor or the doctor of osteopathic medicine, appropriate pain management warrants a high dosage of controlled dangerous drugs and the benefit of the relief expected outweighs the risk of the high dosage, the medical doctor or doctor of osteopathic medicine may administer such a dosage, even if its use may increase the risk of death, so long as it is not also furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, death for any reason and so long as it falls within policies, guidelines and rules of the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision or the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

D.  The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision and the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners shall issue policies, guidelines or rules that ensure that physicians who are engaged in the appropriate treatment of pain are not subject to disciplinary action, and the Boards shall consider policies and guidelines developed by national organizations with expertise in pain medicine or in a medical discipline for this purpose.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 387, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.