French Public Health Code
In forceI. - The regional or inter-regional council, placed under the control of the National Council, fulfils, at regional level, the mission defined in article L. 4121-2. Its head office is located in the department in which the regional health agency has its head office, subject, in the case of dental surgeons and midwives, to a decision by the National Council.
In particular, it represents the profession in the region or inter-region and coordinates the departmental councils.
It is consulted by the Director General of the Regional Health Agency on issues and projects falling within its remit.
In the regions or inter-regions, it exercises the powers referred to in article L. 4112-4.
It may decide to temporarily suspend the right to practise in the event of the professional's infirmity or pathological condition making it dangerous to practise his profession, as well as temporarily suspend, in whole or in part, the right to practise in the event of professional inadequacy making it dangerous to practise his profession.
In the matters listed in the two preceding paragraphs, the Council may act in a restricted formation.
It authorises the President of the Association to institute legal proceedings. It may, before all courts, exercise all the rights reserved to civil parties in respect of acts directly or indirectly prejudicial to the collective interests of the medical profession, including in the case of threats or violence committed because of membership of one of these professions.
The deliberations of the Regional or Inter-Regional Council are not public.
II. - Decisions by the regional or inter-regional councils regarding registration on the roll and temporary suspension of the right to practise in the event of infirmity or pathological condition or total or partial temporary suspension of the right to practise in the event of professional inadequacy making it dangerous to practise the profession may be appealed to the Conseil national. The National Council may delegate its powers to a select committee, which shall make decisions on its behalf.
III. - In regions consisting of a single département, the function of representing the profession is performed by the département council.
IV. - The regional or inter-regional council is made up of full members and, in the case of midwives, an equal number of substitute members, elected by the full members of the departmental councils of the region or inter-region from among the doctors, dental surgeons or midwives entered on their roll and who meet the conditions laid down in article L. 4125-9.
The national councillors also participate in an advisory capacity in the deliberations of their regional or inter-regional council.
V. - When a member ceases to hold office for any reason whatsoever, a supplementary election of a member may be held within six months of the vacancy being established. In this case, the term of office of the member so elected shall be that remaining until the date on which the term of office of the member being replaced would have expired.
In the case of doctors and dental surgeons, the member thus elected shall be of the same sex as the member he replaces.
VI. - If the members of a regional or inter-regional council, through their own actions, make it impossible for the council to function, the director general of the regional health agency, acting on a proposal from the Conseil national de l'ordre, may, by order, dissolve the regional or inter-regional council. In the event of the dissolution of the regional or inter-regional council or in the event of the resignation of all its members, the Director General, acting on a proposal from the Conseil national de l'ordre, appoints a delegation of three to five members, depending on the size of the council. Until the election of a new Council organised without delay by the National Council, this delegation manages day-to-day business and performs the functions assigned to the Council by the fourth and fifth paragraphs of I of this article.
In the event of the resignation of the majority of the members of this delegation, it is automatically dissolved and, until the new Council takes office, its functions are devolved to the National Council.
VII. - A decree of the Conseil d'Etat shall determine the composition of the Council, the procedures for electing its members, their term of office and the rules of operation and procedure.
