Biography

Dónal P. O’Mathúna is Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Decision-Making & Evidence in the School of Nursing & Human Sciences at Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland, and Chair of the Academy of Fellows at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity in Chicago. He is a member of CMA and the Paul Tournier Institute speaker’s bureau. He is the Chairperson of the DCU Research Ethics Committee and a member of the St James’s Hospital Ethics Committee in Dublin. He is the Chair of an EU-funded project examining ethical issues in providing healthcare and conducting research during disasters (http://DisasterBioethics.eu).

Dónal was born and raised in Ireland and earned a B.S. in pharmacy from Trinity College, Dublin. He received his Ph.D. in pharmacognosy/medicinal chemistry from The Ohio State University. His research involved isolating and identifying potential new drugs from herbs. He then pursued his interest in bioethics by obtaining an M.A. in Theology focused on Bioethics from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Dónal was Professor of Bioethics & Chemistry at Mount Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio until returning to Ireland in 2003.

Dónal has co-edited Disaster Bioethics: Normative Issues when Nothing is Normal (Springer, 2014). His book Nanoethics: Big Ethical Issues with Small Technology (Continuum, 2009) arose from his involvement with scientists and medical researchers at  DCU. His previous book was co-authored with Walt Larimore, MD, Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook. The Updated and Expanded edition (Zondervan, 2007) reviews over one hundred therapies, remedies, and supplements, examining the available research and, where relevant, evaluating the spiritual beliefs underlying therapies in light of traditional Christian values. The book has recently been translated into Hungarian and Croatian. He wrote a weekly column on herbal remedies for the Irish Times, which he hopes to publish soon in book format. A complete list of his publications in bioethics and alternative medicine is available at http://www.dcu.ie/info/staff_member.php?id_no=1510, and some articles, editorials and other media appearances are available at www.BioethicsIreland.ie. His long-standing interest in how the Bible applies to contemporary ethics underlies an online daily devotional he is writing (http://bioethicsireland.ie/bible/bibeth/).

Dónal lives in Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland with his wife, Cheri, and one of his children. His daughter and another son live in Columbus, Ohio where they are involved with Xenos Christian Fellowship. Dónal and family took a step of faith to move back to Ireland in 2003 to see how the Lord might use them in sharing His love and wisdom.

Dr. O'Mathúna speaks on the following topics:

• Ethical issues during disasters for healthcare professionals and researchers
• Nanotechnology bioethics (nanoethics)
• Literature and ethics
• Stem cell research ethics
• Research ethics
• Healthcare ethics (abortion, assisted suicide, autonomy)
• Using the Bible in contemporary bioethics
• Complementary & alternative medicine

Travels from Ireland

Contact information:
Dónal O'Mathúna, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Decision-Making & Evidence
School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Dublin City University
Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
Email
office: +353 (0)1 700 7808
fax: +353 (0)1 700 5688