Eimear Spain

Eimear Spain is a Professor of Health Law at the University of Limerick, holding a joint appointment between the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and the School of Law. She specializes in interdisciplinary research addressing vulnerabilities in healthcare and criminal justice systems, with a focus on medico-legal issues, regulatory frameworks, and victim rights. Her work spans constitutional, administrative, and health law, supported by collaborations with institutions like the HSE, Department of Justice, and An Garda Síochána.

Spain earned a BA in Law and Accounting (awarded the University Medal) and a PhD. She held positions at Macquarie University and the University of Northumbria before returning to UL in 2010. She currently serves on the Psychologists Registration Board (CORU) since 2017.

Her research interests include medico-legal environments impacting medical practice, capacity assessment in healthcare, and victims’ rights within criminal justice. She has secured funding from the Irish Research Council and the Council of Europe, focusing on topics like obstetrics career choices, vaccination policies, and hunger strikes in prisons.

Key awards include the University Medal for academic excellence. Spain’s publications address regulatory challenges in healthcare, legal implications of medical decisions, and systemic reforms to improve victim support and practitioner well-being.

Her advisory roles and grants emphasize bridging legal theory with practice, particularly in healthcare ethics and criminal justice reform. She collaborates across disciplines, including medicine, nursing, and psychology, to address societal challenges through evidence-based policy.