We had planned to publish our segment on how political corruption and the Albany Democratic Machine and control by the Democratic party in Albany, NY, has bred and fed a system of corruption, cronyism, nepotism, and political patronage, and how that is adversely affecting everything from elections to public health and criminal investigation and prosecution. That scheduled publication has been put on a side-burner because we have obtained some very derogatory information on Bernard T. Ng, MD, which may lead to serious consequences for the fake forensic pathologist.
We think that the New York State Police Investigators, the Albany County Coroners, and Bernard T. Ng need to spend more time watching Sherlock Holmes films; they’d probably be able to do a better job of investigation rather than dancing in the dark with factoids.
“When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, stated by Sherlock Holmes
What does that mean? This is all about logic, and using facts to establish truth. If you start with brainstorming every possible scenario you can think of, and then eliminate those that are clearly impossible, you are well on your way to a solution or at least a reasonable conclusion. That that isn’t the way it happens in Albany County when you put law-enforcement, the Albany County Coroners, and a wannabe forensic pathologist, Bernard T. Ng, MD, on the same case. Where the three of them should be free to do their jobs, they are also expected to be on the same page, or at least in the same book! They are not.
That’s the first step in solving any mystery, whether it’s a murder mystery in a book (or TV, or movie, or…) or something you expected to work — like a death investigation, but didn’t. You have to eliminate all the things that it couldn’t possibly be, or you will have too many distractions, and then, once we’ve cleared out all the flotsam and jetsam, we can focus on what remains, which is usually something believable, even if it has to be cleaned up a bit. Sometimes what is left is easy to believe, other times it can seem unlikely but still possible. However, with the impossible eliminated, what remains are the only possible solutions. And one of them must be the truth.
Why is clearing out the impossible solutions important? Once we clear the clutter by removing all that is impossible, the questions become clearer, and we are left with a more plausible situation. What is left can be gone over more quickly, and evaluated for probability or even likelihood.
That’s where education, training, experience, and an open mind come into play. A hefty dose of good communications skills and a willingness to engage in team work is a big plus.
The investigations into the deaths of Riley Kern and Joshua Abood clearly show that Albany County, law-enforcement — New York State Police, Cohoes Police —, the Albany County Coroners, and the medical and forensic institutions have failed the public continuously, consistently, and repeatedly.
But let’s first look at what the American Board of Pathology says about board certification, and the certification that Bernard T. Ng, MD, cannot claim he has, but he thinks he has. We have evidence in Ng’s own words, of Ng stating, and we quote:
” I am a board-certified pathologist in anatomic and clinical pathology. Within that, in that double-boarded status that I hold, anatomic pathology includes the practice of forensic autopsy and forensic investigation.”
That statement alone should get him censured by the American Board of Pathology, if not prosecuted by the DAs in several New York counties, where Bernard T. Ng MD has been providing forensic pathology services but is not certified to do so.
With that in mind, let’s now have a look at what the American Board of Pathology has to say about certifications and how they are to be used, that is, used ethically:
CERTIFICATION BY THE ABPath The ABPath issues primary certificates in Anatomic Pathology and/or Clinical Pathology and Anatomic Pathology/Neuropathology.
We do not dispute the fact that Bernard T. Ng, MD, is, as he claims, board certified in anatomic/clinical pathology, and, if his résumé is correct, it appears he was granted the combined certification, rather than the individual anatomic and clinical pathology credentials separately.
The ABP then describes the requirements for subspecialty certification, of interest to us here is the subspecialty of forensic pathology. Here’s what the ABP has to say:
Subspecialty certificates are issued in:
Forensic Pathology
Subspecialty Certification. Pathology is a broad discipline; therefore, it is appropriate that some certified pathologists seek greater knowledge and expertise in one or more of the subspecialties of pathology. The achievement of subspecialty certification does not reflect on the ability of other pathologists to practice in that specialty area.
Forensic Pathology a. Candidates must be certified in AP/CP or AP and must complete 12 months of training in an ACGME accredited forensic pathology program.
The ABP also makes a clear and unambiguous statement on what physicians certified by the ABP must use the certification:
Certification Status. Physicians with ABPath certificates are designated as Diplomates of the ABPath, and are entitled to so designate themselves in an ethical manner. All Diplomates are governed by policies for use of certification, and for expiration and revocation of certificates as the ABPath may, from time to time, adopt. Diplomates of the ABPath are required to accurately state their certification status in curriculum vitae, publications, directories, letterhead, etc. A diplomate with a time-limited certificate whose certificate has expired must not claim to be board certified, and all descriptions of certification status must be modified accordingly. If an individual represents that they are certified by the ABPath when such is not the case, the ABPath will notify appropriate authorities, including but not limited to hospital, healthcare, and credentialing organizations, licensing boards, and law enforcement agencies.[emphasis provided; ABPath = American Board of Pathology]
As stated above, we have clear and convincing evidence that Bernard T. Ng, MD, represents himself as a qualified forensic pathologist, and that qualification is included in his ABP certification as an anatomic/clinical pathologist. It is not. We categorically and absolutely call his statements a clear misrepresentation of his certification credentials and an outright deception! Here is his statement, when asked by a concerned next-of-kin [NOK; name withheld at the request of the provider of the digital recording]:
NOK: Are you a forensic pathologist?
Bernard Ng: No. Nor do I ever claim to be a forensic pathologist. But I do want to state that as a pathologist, I am a board-certified pathologist in anatomic and clinical pathology. Within that, in that double-boarded status that I hold, anatomic pathology includes the practice of forensic autopsy and forensic investigation. A person known as a forensic pathologist is a pathologist that only do [sic] forensic cases. I do…I am double-boarded. I also do clinical pathology; I also do surgical pathology, meaning that I also do examinations of patients, live patient, biopsies. They are in my scope of practice. So a forensic pathologist is clearly somebody that only do[es] that exclusively. I am a clinical and an anatomic pathologist. At no point… [interrupted]
We disagree strongly that Ng’s so-called “double-boarded status” includes the practice of forensic autopsy and forensic investigation. This opinion is supported by the fact that the ABP offers a subspecialty certification in forensic pathology that requires prior certification in anatomic/clinical or anatomic pathology. The very reasonable conclusion we can draw from that fact is that Ng’s statement is a misrepresentation and a deceit. Furthermore, there are many physicians with board certifications in forensic pathology who practice other specialties and clinical pathology and clinical medicine. Being a board-certified forensic pathologist does not mean that they don’t practice clinical medicine as well!
NOK: But isn’t a forensic pathologist needed when a body is found alone…with no witnesses? Suspiciously?
Bernard Ng: No. That is not forensic. The practice of forensic autopsy is within my scope of practice, and within the scope of my training and board certification. Do you understand what I am saying? So, for example, a kidney specialist, a nephrologist, has undergone, in order for them to focus just on the kidney, they are trained, in residency training, as an internal medicine doctor first, and then if they choose to focus only on kidney disease, they can then do a fellowship, and they become nephrologists. They are first trained as internal medicine doctors, with the additional focus on nephrology, which means the study and treatment of kidney disease, and that’s all they do is kidney disease. Even though they can still take care of somebody with an ear infection or with pneumonia, they choose to focus only on kidney disease. So they are called nephrologists.
We disagree strongly! It IS forensic. And we further disagree strongly that “[t]he practice of forensic autopsy is within [Ng’s] scope of training and board certification,” and we further suggest that the ABP would agree with us completely. As for Ng’s nephrologist example, see below.
At this point the discussion turns to details that we will discuss later but let’s just focus on Ng’s statements in the above excerpt.
First, let’s just recap: A forensic pathologist is an expert who determines the cause of death of someone who may have died under suspicious circumstances. A forensic pathologist, because he has specialist training in forensics and pathology, is qualified, for example, to determine entrance and exit wounds of bullets; the angles of those bullets or knife wounds; whether someone was poisoned or overdosed; if someone was murdered before being burned or drowned, etc. He is specially trained to interpret details from the scene in conjunction with other information sources to determine the cause and the manner of death, that is, whether someone died by homicide, suicide or accident; etc. They do a fellowship in the field of forensic pathology, and are certified as forensic pathologists, and can be called upon by prosecutors to discuss their findings and answer questions from those who doubt their findings, such as a defense attorney. All pathologists are trained to do autopsies, but those without forensic training are qualified only to do autopsies to determine a cause of death that is generally medical and does not suggest suspicious circumstances or foul play. To be a forensic pathologist, according to the American Board of Pathology, a pathologist already board certified in anatomical pathology must do an additional year of fellowship training in an approved program and then take the certification examination. Bernard T. Ng, MD, did not do this.
That is the first point. Clear enough and there’s no debating that fact. He is not recognized by a qualified certification organization as a forensic pathologist. If he is not a forensic pathologist, he has no business doing medicolegal autopsies, forensic autopsies, which are exactly the kind of autopsy performed to determine important facts in a coroner’s case.
The second point is that Bernard T. Ng is so arrogant as to attempt to persuade the person that he is qualified to do forensic autopsies and forensics because they are in the scope of his certification as an anatomic/clinical pathologist. This is an outright lie! If it is not a lie, then Ng is very seriously mistaken about his own training and certification. Worse still, Ng appears not to know his limitations, which is a serious matter when we are discussing medical issues and a so-called physician.
According to the American Board of Pathology, forensic pathology is a sub-specialty, that is a specialty requiring additional training and education in an accredited year of additional study plus examination by the ABP. A forensic pathologist is an anatomical pathologist with at least 1 year of additional training in the subspecialty of forensic pathology. Bernard T. Ng does not have that training, much less the necessary certification.
Bernard T. Ng attempts to throw his “double-boarded status” out there as a red herring but it doesn’t work. Forensic pathology is not, as Ng states, within the scope of his practice as an anatomical/clinical pathologist; nor does a forensic pathologist only do exclusively forensic pathology, he is qualified also to do anatomic/clinical, and surgical pathology even more than a pathologist with “double-boarded status.” Furthermore, Ng’s unfortunate example of the “nephrologist” illustrates and confirms exactly what we are saying and contradicts Ng’s own statements. Using the example of the nephrologist was a very poor choice, indeed, because Ng is confused about exactly what he does and what he is qualified to do.
Let’s just have a closer look at Ng’s unfortunate nephrologist example:
Bernard Ng: …” So, for example, a kidney specialist, a nephrologist, has undergone, in order for them to focus just on the kidney, they are trained, in residency training, as an internal medicine doctor first, and then if they choose to focus only on kidney disease, they can then do a fellowship, and they become nephrologists.” All you have to do is replace nephrologist with “forensic pathologist,” and you will have almost exactly what the ABP says about pathologists. To be clearer, replace “kidney” with “disease/injury.”
Bernard Ng: “They are first trained as internal medicine doctors, with the additional focus on nephrology, which means the study and treatment of kidney disease, and that’s all they do is kidney disease.” While it’s incorrect to say that all a nephrologist does is kidney disease, it’s the training that we’re looking at. Again, just preplace “nephrologist” with “pathologist.”
Bernard Ng: “Even though they can still take care of somebody with an ear infection or with pneumonia, they choose to focus only on kidney disease. So they are called nephrologists.” Make the same substitutions in this statement, too.
Take it a step further and think of Ng’s nephrologist, and let’s look at a real ABP subspecialty, neuropathology. Like forensic pathology, neuropathology is recognized as a sub-specialty of anatomic pathology and requires additional training for certification. According to the American Board of Pathology, to receive certification and to call himself a neuropathologist he must:
be certified in anatomic/clinical pathology or anatomic pathology and must complete 24 months of training in an ACGME accredited neuropathology program.
Like neuropathologists the forensic pathologist must obtain additional qualifications and be examined by the certifying authority before he can be considered certified in the subspecialty.
To practice the subspecialty of forensic pathology, even if he does not “claim to be a forensic pathologist,” as Ng states, by practicing the subspecialty and explicitly claiming that forensic practice within the scope of practice of his board certification in anatomic/clinical pathology, Ng is unethically perpetrating a fraud, misrepresentation, deception, and a malpractice.
We believe he is subject to severe discipline under civil and criminal laws, and to censure by the New York State Department of Education as the licensing authority, and to censure by the American Board of Pathology for misrepresenting his qualifications and scope of practice as including forensic pathology in his “double-boarded status” as an anatomic/clinical pathologist by the American Board of Pathology.
We will elaborate those charges to the competent authorities, and will continue to expose the public services that are complicit in Ng’s misconduct, including Ellis Hospital of Schenectady, Albany Medical College and Albany Medical Center, the Albany County Coroners Office and Albany County, and the offices of the medical examiner or coroner in the counties using Ellis Hospital mortuary services or Bernard T. Ng’s services as coroner’s physician.
This situation requires a thorough investigation of all parties involved, and prosecution to the fullest extent of civil, professional, and criminal statutes and laws.
Anyone who has had a loved one, a relative, a friend who has been subjected to this systemic misconduct by the Albany County Coroners Office or any office of the medical examiner or coroner in their county must join with us in this effort to expose and to correct this outrageous abuse of the public’s trust and to prevent continuation of this scandalous misconduct!
It’s time to hold the County Executive, Daniel McCoy (Dem), the Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares (Dem), the Albany County Legislature, the Albany County Office of the Coroner, Bernard T. Ng, Ellis Hospital, and Albany Medical Center ACCOUNTABLE and ANSWERABLE to the public. It’s time the Albany County Sheriff’s Department, the Albany City Police, Cohoes Police, the New York State Parks Police, the Coeymans Police Department, and all of the 15 counties using Bernart T. Ng as their medicolegal death investigation pathologist, are ACCOUNTABLE and ANSWERABLE for cheating the public and the families of the deceased!
As for Bernard T. Ng, Ellis Hospital, Albany Medical Center, it is our intention to file formal complaints together with the families of Riley Kern and Joshua Abood, with the the New York State Department of Health, The American Board of Pathology, the New York State Department of Education, Division of Professional Misconduct Enforcement, and the National Association of Medical Examiners, demanding investigation and disciplinary action. The same formal complaint and demands will be filed with the New York State Department of Health against the funeral directors acting in their capacity as Albany County Coroners. Furthermore, we will demand that the Office of the State Attorney General investigate the Office of the Albany County Executive, the Office of the Albany County District Attorney, New York State Police Criminal Investigators, Troop G, Latham, NY, and other agencies for their abuse of public office in obstructing justice. We will further join with families of deceased who come under the jurisdiction of the Albany County Coroners to demand a thorough investigation of all deaths certified by the Albany County Coroners and the certification of Immediate Cause of Death, autopsies done by Bernard T. Ng MD upon request of the Albany county Coroners, and a thorough review of the investigation and certification procedures of the Albany County Coroners Office.
The **it’s hit the fan, dudes!
Our next Segment will discuss the Autopsies, the Autopsy Reports, and the Albany County Coroners’ Death Certifications.
Notes:
[1] See: Payne-James, Jason, and Roger W. Byard. Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Elsevier, (2016). Print.
[2] Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting. Hyattsville, MD: Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 2003. Print.
We are back to the Joshua Abood case, and will provide more specifics and detail on the investigation and the weirdos investigating and making decisions in the case. Stay tuned for the upcoming segment that will deal with New York State Police Investigator Thomas Burns, Albany County Coroner Antonio Sturges and the Albany County Legislature and the Albany County Coroners Office, Ellis Hospital (Schenectady) pathologist Bernard Ng, and New York State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III.
Some Related Smalbany Articles
Politics, Power, Patronage and Conflicts of Interest: The Albany County Coroners Office
A Response to Lorin Marra. re: Office of the Albany County Coroners
The Cover-up Continues… A Mother’s Despair
Riley’s Mom Responds: A Mother’s Perspective
WTF?!?
You can’t make this sh*t up!
This is the Twilight Zone!
( NYS Assemblyman John T. McDonald III )
ALBANY COUNTY, NEW YORK.