Alexandra Cist, M.D.

Dr. Alexandra Cist is a faculty member in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH--a teaching hospital of the Harvard Medical School).  She cares for patients with general pulmonary diseases and is active in the Ethics activities at MGH, Partners Healthcare, and Harvard.  She participates in ethics consultations, ethics rounds, and the palliative management of terminal conditions--especially end-stage lung disease.

The combined interests of Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, and Ethics have led to many interdisciplinary collaborations in her clinical work, committees, teaching, and research. She is Co-Chair of the Optimum Care Commitee and the MGH Ethics Task Force; and she serves on the Ethics in Clinical Practice Committee, the Partners Ethics Leaders Committee, and the Harvard Bioethics Advisory Council.  She has been part of a research team seeking to integrate Palliative Care principles and practices into the Medical Intensive Care Unit. She particularly enjoys learning from and teaching all involved in the care of patients: students, physicians, family members, nurses, therapists, chaplains, social workers, and the patients themselves.

Seminar TopicSeminar topic 1 (Sat, Mar 1411:30am)

Seminar Case Study: Ethical Issues surrounding a critically ill

Woman This interactive session concerns making decisions about a critically ill woman who is near the end of her life in an intensive care unit. It involves role-playing in a mock "team-family meeting" to determine the fate of this dying woman. The patient is unable to speak clearly for herself.  Her son and sister are at odds with each other but are expected to be the "surrogate" decision makers.  Her main physician, the intensive care physicians, and the intensive care nurses have not reached consensus about how to proceed with her care. How "aggressive" should they be? Is it time to stop some therapies?  If so, which ones?  If her heart were to stop, should cardiopulmonary resuscitation be attempted?  What else should be done for her and her family?

Seminar topic 2 (Sat, Mar 141pm)

A Christian Perspective on End-of-Life Care

This interactive seminar offers the opportunity to explore some ethical questions that arise in the care of patients who are at or near the end-of-life. We'll use a Christian perspective in our analysis of a number of concerns, comparing that perspective to mainstream secular Bioethics.  Concerns addressed may include: euthanasia, withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining therapies ("pulling the plug"), the relief of suffering, and physician-assisted suicide. The seminar leader is a Christian who is a physician and ethicist. She works in a secular academic hospital and is not a theologian.  It is acknowledged that, even within Christianity, there are many perspectives.  Come with your heart and mind open!

To learn more about Dr. Cist click here: http://pulmonaryfellowship.hms.harvard.edu/NewFiles/Staff/CistFrameset.html