Legislation modernizing Oklahoma’s laws surrounding advance health care directives and medical decision-making to give patients more control over their care has been signed into law. House Bill 1687 creates the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act of 2025.
The measure updates state law related to health care decision-making, advance directives and surrogate decision-making for individuals who may lose the ability to communicate or make medical decisions for themselves.
Among other amendments, the law clarifies that food and liquids necessary to sustain life may not be withheld unless specifically directed by the patient in their advance directive. It also provides legal protections for health care professionals and institutions acting in good faith under the provisions of the measure,
Like all versions of the UHCDA, the Oklahoma statute permits clinicians and hospitals to refuse compliance with treatment requests. But unlike Delaware and Utah adoptions which have a time-defined transfer periods, Oklahoma has a treat 'til transfer requirement. And Oklahoma limits its UHCDA to comply with its Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act.
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