Could this be the year that Albany passes the Medical Aid in Dying Act?

Advocates have been pushing the bill for almost 10 years, but they say there are several reasons to be especially hopeful this session: According to a variety of polls, about two-thirds of Americans support the issue. Also, the sponsors of the bill are two powerful lawmakers, the chair of the Assembly Health Committee Amy Paulin and the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

Additionally, the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), an organization of approximately 20,000 licensed physicians, medical residents, and medical students, recently changed its position on the bill from “opposed” to “supports."

Corinne Carey, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices NY & NJ, and Dr. Jeremy Boal, an internist and geriatrician who served as executive vice president and chief clinical officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, joined Capital Tonight to discuss the legislation.

Early in Dr. Boal’s career, he co-founded the Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors program, which provides in-home care to homebound patients. He is now living with ALS and advocating for passage of the Medical Aid in Dying legislation.

“I have had the tremendous honor of caring for many patients with serious illnesses in late stages. While we are able to ameliorate suffering for many, the reality is that there are patients whose suffering is beyond measure despite access to the very best palliative care and hospice services,” Dr. Boal told Capital Tonight. “Ayla Eilert’s story so perfectly captures this reality. Not a day goes by when she and her family are not in my thoughts.”

More on Ayla Eilert’s story can be found here.

Earlier in the year, Capital Tonight invited several people living with disabilities to the show to share why they are so concerned with the bill. Their arguments are outlined here.