Or he may apply for immediate parole for medical reasons under a new provision called medical parole.

CNN: Brooke Astor's son sentenced to prison

In their decision, the judges noted state law provided "a mechanism for release from prison on medical parole" if a defendant becomes terminally ill.

WSJ: Brooke Astor's Son Loses Appeal in Fraud Case

His office has been seeking medical parole for him.

BBC: From the section Asia