Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 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.