Welcome to Berg Psychiatric P.A.

Welcome to Berg Psychiatric P.A.

Dr. Elin Barth Berg was born in Oslo, Norway on December 15, 1949.  Dr. Berg grew up with a goal to strive to be the best at whatever she put her mind to.  At the age of 17, Dr. Berg recieved her baccalaurette which gave her the right to attend medical school.  While still residing in Norway Dr. Berg attended medical school at the University of Oslo from 1968 until 1974.  After finishing medical school she spent three months at Hoffman-LaRoche doing research on the extraparamital effects of Haldol.  Berg then completed one and a half years of mandatory internship in order to attain her license to practice in the European commonwealth.  The one and a half year mandatory intership consisted of six months of surgery, six months of internal medicine, and six months of family practice.  Berg then proceeded to do four years of general surgery residency, one year of neurosurgery, and four years of orthopedic and trauma surgery.  Dr. Berg also spent two years as an assistant professor of orthopedic and trauma surgery.  Dr. Berg attended Bowman-Dray as a research assistant in biomaterials with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery under professor Anthony Gristina.  Berg worked on two NIH research grants in biomaterials in the field of related infection.  In 1986, Berg completed her disertation for her Ph. D. within the field of biomaterials as a joint effort between Bowman-Dray School of Medicine and the Institute of Surgical Research located in Oslo, Norway.  In 1988, Berg was hired to do research at the USC School of Medicine holding the Luncesord-Moore chair of orthopedic research.  Later in 1992, Berg decided it was time for a change of career from orthopedic surgery.  Berg decided she now wanted to practice psychiatry.  That same year she completed a residency training in general psychiatry, followed by a child and adolescent fellowship in psychiatry, and finally a fellowship in forensic psychology.  Dr. Berg is certified in child, adolescent and forensic psychiatry.  Since graduating Dr. Berg has founded her own private practice involving treatment of patients, as well as doing forensic work including civil and criminal areas pertaining to children as well as adults.  Dr. Berg has spent time as a medical director of a group home for juveniles who because of mental illness were diverted (subclass from the Department of Juvenile Justice and transfered to the Department of Juvenile Health).  Her experiences also include psychiatric services at the local detention cener and Richland County.  Other appointments include serving as a member of he executive commitee of the Columbia Medical Society, as well as a member of the Disciplinary Commission with the South Carolina Board of Examiners.  Berg has also served as president of International Society of Aquatic Medicine.  Berg has published in peer reviewed journals in the field of orthopedics, participated in writings in orthopedic textbooks.  Berg has presented papers to the Orthopedic Society, the Society of Biomaterials, Gordon research conference, as well as given presentations to the Medical Society of Law, and the Psychiatric Association.

I. What is a forensic psychiatrist?

The term "forensic psychiatrist" has been applied to the psychiatrist performing the function of an expert in the legal system as opposed to performing the function of a clinician. Today, forensic psychiatry is recognized as a subspecialty of psychiatry, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology now offers Certification in the Subspecialty of Forensic Psychiatry; although Certification is not a prerequisite at this time for calling oneself a forensic psychiatrist. The forensic psychiatrist must be trained in various subjects relating to law and should have relevant clinical experience in order to properly understand the interconnection between the legal system and the practice of psychiatry.

II. What is the ethical guideline involved in the question of whether to use the treating psychiatrist or an independent forensic psychiatrist?

The ethical guideline is that, in general, the treating psychiatrist should not be engaged to render expert testimony; an independent forensic psychiatrist should provide whatever expert testimony may be required. This is expressed by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law ("AAPL") as follows: "A treating psychiatrist should generally avoid agreeing to be an expert witness or to perform an evaluation of his patient for legal purposes ... "

III. What is the Hippocratic Oath?

The Hippocratic Oath states, "Whatsoever things I shall see or hear concerning the life of men, in my attendance on the sick or even apart therefrom, which ought not to be noised abroad, I will keep silence thereon, counting such things to be as holy secrets."

IV. What is the HIPAA Law?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is intended to protect the patients.  The HIPAA Law was put in to order to protect the patients in four main ways: to address fraud and abuse in healthcare, to ensure privacy and security of individuals’ health and medical information, and to standardize the handling of that information, and to enforce those standards. To find out more on this law please feel free to visit http://hippo.findlaw.com/hipaa.html

Elin Berg, MD, Ph. D.

1308 Pulaski Street

Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 256-0816

(803)771-7679

         

 Dr. Elin Berg, MD, Ph. D.

  • Board Certified in Adult, Child/Adolescent, and Forensic psychiatry
  • Over 12 years of experience
  • Consultation, evaluation, reports, and testimony
  • Civil, Criminal, and Custody matters
  • Expert/consultant for plantiffs