Mr. Rodney K. Adams
-
Profile
After a career as a healthcare trial lawyer, Rodney K. Adams took on a new challenge in 2020 as General Counsel to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia. In June 2025, Adams made another go at retiring. He has taught healthcare law and medical ethics in the Virginia Commonwealth University MHA and MHSA programs since 2016. Adams has also led courses in the law schools at the University of Richmond and the College of William & Mary in corporate health law, mental health law, health policy, medical ethics, and trial practice. Teaching assignments have taken him to China, South Africa, and Mauritius.
Adams received a B.A. from Millikin University; an LL. M. in Forensic Medicine from the University of Glasgow (Scotland) Faculty of Law; and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. He was certified by the American Board of Trial Advocacy and appeared in the Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark, Martindale Hubbell AV-Peer Rating, and other rankings.
Adams has authored the five editions of Virginia Medical Law, as well as Clinical Trials & Human Research: A Practical Guide to Regulatory Compliance (w/F. Rozovsky, 2003), and several book chapters. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Virginia State Bar Section on Health Law and chaired an ABA subcommittee on medical ethics for more than five years. Adams is a frequent speaker at national meetings of healthcare providers and attorneys.
Expand All-
Grants and Fellowships
Rotary International Scholar, 1981-82
-
Awards
Award for Outstanding Teaching, MSHA Program, VCU, 2019
Award for Outstanding Educator, MHA Program, VCU, 2017
-
Presentations
National & International
“Confidentiality of Behavioral Health Care in the Era of Mass Shootings,” American Society for Health Care Risk Management 2019 Annual Conference, Baltimore, 14 October 2019
“Budgeting & Case Management: New Realities in Cold Blooded Battles,” USLAW Network Client Conference, The Broadmoor, Colorado, 23 September 2016
“Nurse Practitioners as the New Primary Care Providers,” Panel Moderator, Crittenden Medical Malpractice Insurance Conference, Miami, FL, 12 April 2015
“Legal Project Management in Complex Cases,” USLAW Network Client Conference, San Francisco, 20 September 2014
“ACA: Three Letters That Just Changed Everything,” USLAW Network Professional Liability Exchange, Jersey City, NJ, 17 June 2014
“A Modest Proposal by Emergency Medicine Physicians,” USLAW Network Client Conference, Washington, DC, 4 October 2012
“The Peer Review Process: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” American College of Surgeons, 91st Annual Clinical Congress, San Francisco, 18 October 2005
“The Research Year in Review,” Panel Member, American Bar Association, Health Law Section & Section of Litigation, National Continuing Legal Education TeleConference, 7 October 2003
“The Doctor, Medical Ethics & The Law,” University of Mauritius SSR Research Centre and the Medical Update Group, Réduit, Mauritius, 4 April 2001
“Crisis Management During a Fraud & Abuse Investigation,” 1999 MedTrade Conference & Convention, New Orleans, 3 November 1999
“Compliance & Human Research Reaches New Heights with the OIG: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Risk Managers,” presented with F. Rozovsky, American Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, 1999 Annual Conference & Exhibition, Chicago, 5 October 1999
“Medical Malpractice: Trials & Tribulations in America” and “Current Legal Issues in Organ Transplantation,” The University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius, 15 July 1999.
“Withdrawal of Nourishment & Hydration from the Terminally Ill,” 2-Day Seminar Workshop, Amer. College of Healthcare Executives Annual Congress, Chicago, 14-15 February 1989
“The Emerging Right to Die & Other Dilemmas of Gerontologists, Hospitals & Long-Term Care Facilities,” Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New Orleans, 12 Feb. 1986
“Pre-Trial Strategy in Aviation Disaster Litigation,” co-authored and presented by P.M. Foss, European Studies Conference on Aviation Law & Claims, London, 18 June 1984
Regional & State
“Compliance with LEP Patient Regulations,” Practice Administrator Meeting, Richmond Academy of Medicine, 20 February 2020
“The Duty to Protect: The Virginia Approach,” Keynote Speaker, Virginia Bar Association 15th Annual Health Care Practitioners’ Roundtable, Richmond, 24 October 2019
“Getting into the Weeds of Decriminalizing Marijuana in Virginia: Hemp, Medical Marijuana and CBD,” Hampden-Sydney Bar Association, Farmville, VA, 27 September 2019
“Legal and Ethical Issues in Behavioral Health in Virginia,” (8 credit hour seminar), PESI, Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk in June 2019; Woodbridge, Fairfax and Charlottesville in October 2019; (more than 300 licensed professionals attending); special seminar for Marines & Family Services at Ft. Myer, Arlington in November 2019, November 2022, & December 2023
“Medical Information Management for Behavioral Health Professionals,” Center for Pastoral Counseling of Virginia, McLean, VA, 17 Jan 2019
“Medical Ethics & Law in Pain Management,” Virginia Association of Naturopathic Physicians, CME Event - Botanicals & Pharma for Pain and Trauma + Ethics, 10 November 2018
“Responding to Requests for Futile Care at the End of Life,” (with Prof. D. MacGregor of Wake Forest University Medical School), Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Harrisonburg, VA, 20 Sept 2018
“Legal and Ethical Issues in Behavioral Health in Virginia,” (8 credit hour seminar), PESI, Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk in June 2018; Winchester, Fairfax and Charlottesville in October 2018 (more than 300 licensed professionals attending)
“The Ghosts of the Operating Room,” Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Spring Meeting, Staunton, VA, 12 May 2017
“The Many Rights of Patients: A Brief Review,” Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Glen Allen, VA, 30 March 2017
“Preventing & Planning for Workplace Violence,” Panel Moderator, Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Glen Allen, VA, 30 March 2017
“EMR: Blessing or Curse in Medical Malpractice Litigation?” Virginia Urological Society Annual Meeting, Staunton, VA, 18 April 2015
“The Troubles I’ve Seen –A Lighter Look at the Challenges Confronting Risk Managers & Attorneys,” Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Charlottesville, VA, 9 April 2015
“’Scientific Method’ Questions in Expert Depositions: Daubert Challenges Coming?” LeClairRyan Medical Malpractice Summit, Richmond, 29 May 2014
“Preventing Rampage Shootings: Using Social Media in Protecting Behavioral Health Providers, Society and Civil Liberties,” Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Virginia Beach, 2 May 2014
“Managing Pain Patients Across the Continuum,” Moderator, Panel Discussion, Virginia Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, Virginia Beach, 1 May 2014
“Electronic Medical Records: Risk Reduction Strategies in the Physician Practice,” Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, Charlottesville, 15 January 2014
“Top Ten Risks of Primary Care,” Grand Rounds, Riverside Health System, Newport News, 15 October 2013
“The Problem with Waldo: Risk Management for Radiologists,” Professionals Advocate Insurance, Charlottesville, 5 September 2013
Moderator and Organizer, LeClairRyan Med Mal Summit, Richmond, 11 June 2013
“The New HIPAA/HITECH Final Rule: Translated for Physicians,” Professionals Advocate Insurance / Neurology Consultants of Tidewater, Norfolk, 9 May 2013
“What Wins Trials? – A Look at Courtroom Magic,” LeClairRyan Med Mal Summit, Richmond, 14 June 2012
“Neurology Risk Management Update, 2012,” Professionals Advocate Insurance, 16 May 2012
-
Bar Admissions
Admitted to the bar of Virginia, District of Columbia and Illinois Certificate in Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy
-
Professional Experience
Healthcare trial attorney and counsel (1985-2018 )
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Richmond School of Law (2018-2020 )
General Counsel to Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia (2020-2025)
-
Community Service
Health Care Arbitrator, American Health Law Association
-
Grants and Fellowships
-
Publications
Additional Publications
Books & Book Chapters
Virginia section of State Response to Opioid Crisis and Opioid Prescribing Requirements: A 50 State Survey, American Health Law Association, 2019
Virginia Medical Law, Fifth Edition, The Commonwealth Medico-Legal Press / Lulu, 2019
“How to Prepare to be a Defendant,” book chapter in Warsof & Shwayder, ed., Legal Concepts and Best Practices in Obstetrics: The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Mitigating Risk, Wolters Kluwer, 2019
“Trial: Defendant’s Perspective,” book chapter in McConnell, ed., Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia, Virginia Continuing Legal Education, 2017
Virginia Medical Law, Fourth Edition, The Commonwealth Medico-Legal Press / Lulu, 2016
Virginia Medical Law, Third Edition, The Commonwealth Medico-Legal Press / Lulu, 2012
“Patient Safety in Human Research” book chapter in Woods & Rozovsky, ed. Patient Safety Compliance Manual, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2005 (favorably reviewed in ASHRM Journal, Vol. 2, 2006)
Virginia Medical Law, Second Edition, The Commonwealth Medico-Legal Press, 2006
Rozovsky & Adams, Clinical Trials and Human Research: A Practical Guide to Regulatory Compliance, Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2003 (favorably reviewed in Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices, July 2007)
Virginia Medical Law, The Commonwealth Medico-Legal Press, 2000 (This is the first book ever published on this topic)
Journals & Other Periodicals
Adams, “Patient Termination of Life-Supporting Medical Device: Suicide or Natural Death?” J of Forensic Sciences, August 2023
Adams & Roberts, “When the Patient Wants to be the Doctor,” Medical Economics, 15 Jan 2020
Adams, “Virginia Regulations Governing Prescribing of Opioids,” Virginia Lawyer, Vol. 67, No. 5 Health Law Edition, Virginia State Bar, Feb 2019
Adams, “Cannabidiol Oil and THC-A Oil Possession in Virginia,” Virginia Lawyer, Vol. 67, No. 5 Health Law Edition, Virginia State Bar, Feb 2019
Adams & Brennan, “The Unordered Lab Test: What to Do?” RAMifications, Richmond Academy of Medicine, Winter 2019
Adams & Crudele, “The Eroding Off-Label Drug Use Promotion Prohibition,” 12 J. of Health & Life Sci. Law 3-22, Feb. 2019
Adams & Roberts, “Breaking Up Doesn’t Have to Be So Hard to Do: Discharging Patients,” RAMifications, Richmond Academy of Medicine, Winter 2017
Adams & Roberts, “Discharging Problem Patients the Right Way,” Medical Economics, 25 June 2016, p 48
Adams, “My Patient Wants a Copy of Her Records? When? How? Really?,” Richmond Academy of Medicine RAMifications, Spring 2016, pp 16-17
Adams & Roberts, “Discharging Problem Patients the Right Way,” www.PhysiciansPractice.com, 4 May 2016
Adams, “Preventing Rampage Shootings: Protecting Behavioral Health Providers, Society and Civil Liberties in the Social Media Age,” AHRMNY Risk Management Quarterly, June 2015
Adams, “When an Officer Calls…Appropriate Responses to Law Enforcement Inquiries,” RiskWatch, No. 73, April 2008
Adams & Wick, “Medical Malpractice Actions: Procedural Elements,” Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology, Vol. 24, No. 2, May 2007
Adams & Smith, “Human Cloning: An Ethics Update,” American Bar Association Medical Ethics Alert, November 2002
Adams, “Making Sense of the Virginia Durable Do Not Resuscitate Order,” Virginia Health Care Association Legal Quarterly, April 2002
Adams, “Medical Ethics, the Doctor & the Law: Back to the Basics,” American Bar Association Medical Ethics Alert, 14 October 2001
Adams & Harris, “What Happens When a Health Care Provider Has Been Excluded from Medicare or Another Federal Health Care Program?” Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 12:6, pp. 1-5 (October 2000)
Adams, “New Law Guides Care for the Incapacitated,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 15 June 1992
Adams, “Organ Donors & Informed Consent: A Difficult Minuet,” 8 Journal of Legal Medicine 555 (1987)
Foss & Adams, “Pre-Trial Strategy in American Air Disaster Litigation,” 14 Transportation Law Journal 401 (1986)
Uchtmann & Adams, “Spraying & Dusting,” Chapter Revision in IICLE Advising Farmers, 1985
Adams, “The Solicitor in the Medical Library,” Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 1984