At a Glance
- Dr. Jeremy Boal, 56, says medical aid in dying will give him control over his death.
- He was diagnosed with ALS in August 2023, a disease with a typical 3-5 year survival.
- New York’s 2026 law could allow him to end his life on his own terms.
Why it matters: The upcoming legislation could change the fate of thousands of terminally ill patients in the state.
Dr. Boal’s story illustrates how the legal landscape around medical aid in dying is shaping the choices of those facing a terminal diagnosis. He first noticed unusual leg spasms in 2023, leading to a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after several MRIs. The disease, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease, causes progressive paralysis and typically leaves patients 3-5 years to live.
ALS Diagnosis and Its Impact
After the neurologist’s diagnosis, Boal described the moment as a “death sentence” that felt like torture. He said, “I felt as if I had just been told not only that I would die, but that I would be tortured to death, and that it would drag out over several years,” he told Reason TV. The prospect of a prolonged, painful decline was terrifying.
He added that he had cared for many terminal patients and could not imagine a more horrific way to die. “I couldn’t imagine a more horrific disease to die from than ALS,” he said.
Medical Aid in Dying: What It Means
Medical aid in dying (MAID) allows terminally ill adults of sound mind, approved by at least two doctors, to receive a prescription for a lethal medication. Unlike euthanasia, the patient administers the drug themselves. MAID is legal in California, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Washington, Montana, Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Washington D.C.
In December 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an agreement with state legislators to make MAID available. She intends to sign the bill with proposed amendments. If passed, New York would become the twelfth state to permit medical aid in dying.
Dr. Boal’s Perspective
Boal said he was initially prepared to move to another state if New York did not offer MAID, but he now feels at peace knowing he can die on his own terms. “Once MAID becomes legal in New York in 2026, I will have the privilege of creating the exact conditions I want for my own death,” he said.
He shared that he wants to spend his final moments outdoors, watching birds, with his wife and daughters by his side. “I want to be out in the field with our animals, watching tree swallows and bluebirds fly in and out of their boxes,” he added.
He also emphasized that having the choice frees him from the excruciating death he would otherwise endure. “Knowing that I can avail myself of MAID when I decide that enough is enough has freed me of immeasurable degrees of fear and dread,” he said. He now spends time meditating, exercising, and enjoying meals, saying he lives more vibrantly than he did on the day of his diagnosis.
The New York Law and Its Significance
The 2025 agreement signals a major shift in New York’s approach to end-of-life care. With MAID, patients can plan their own death rather than rely solely on palliative or hospice care, which does not provide a therapeutic path to end suffering. Boal noted that even with excellent palliative care, there is no cure for ALS.
If the bill passes, it will provide a legal framework for patients like Boal to request lethal medication and administer it themselves. This could offer a sense of dignity and control that many terminally ill patients currently lack.
Living Vibrantly with ALS
Since his diagnosis, Boal has focused on making the most of the time he has left. He lists activities such as:
- Meditating
- Exercising carefully
- Spending time with his wife and daughters
- Building fences
- Resting in the sun
- Savoring good meals
- Watching birds as if each is a first
These pursuits illustrate his determination to live fully despite the disease’s progression.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Jeremy Boal, diagnosed with ALS in August 2023, believes medical aid in dying will give him control over his death.
- New York’s upcoming 2026 law could allow him and others to end their lives on their own terms.
- MAID differs from euthanasia in that patients self-administer lethal medication.
- The law represents a significant shift toward patient autonomy in end-of-life care.
Boal’s experience underscores how legal changes can profoundly affect the choices and dignity of terminally ill patients.
