Addiction Medicine and the Law: How to Become an Expert Witness

Friday, April 25, 2025

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM

Presenter(s)

Michael F. Weaver, MD, DFASAM

Professor & Medical Director
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, Texas
Kelly J. Clark, MD, MBA, DLFAPA, DFASAM

President
Addiction Crisis Solutions
Louisville, Kentucky
Timothy J. Wiegand, MD, FACMT, FAACT, DFASAM

Director of Addiction Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine
Strong Memorial Hospital
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Rochester, New York

An expert witness is a professional with specialized knowledge, skills, or experience who provides expert opinions in legal proceedings to help judges and juries understand complex issues that are relevant to the case. Participants will learn about getting started as an expert witness, setting payment rates, types of legal cases, advertising your services, creating an expert report, depositions, court testimony, and common pitfalls to avoid. Panel members will discuss cases to demonstrate the role of the Addiction Medicine expert witness.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Discuss legal issues in Addiction Medicine practice, including impact on professionals, patients, families, and the court system.
Identify the qualifications of an Addiction Medicine expert witness and contributions to the U.S. legal system.
Recognize different settings where a practicing Addiction Medicine professional can participate in legal case work as a form of professional development.

Disclosure(s):

Michael F. Weaver, MD, DFASAM: No financial relationships to disclose

Kelly J. Clark, MD, MBA, DLFAPA, DFASAM: Eli Lilly: Consultant/Advisory Board (Terminated, September 14, 2024)

Timothy J. Wiegand, MD, FACMT, FAACT, DFASAM: No financial relationships to disclose