French Public Health Code
In forceIn each region, a regional or inter-regional council of the order of masseur-physiotherapists represents the profession in the region and coordinates the departmental or inter-departmental councils. Its head office is located in the department in which the regional health agency has its head office, unless otherwise stipulated by a decision of the National Council.
It organises and participates in initiatives to evaluate the practices of these professionals, in conjunction with the National Council and the High Authority for Health. Within this framework, the regional or inter-regional council may call upon professionals authorised for this purpose by the national council of the Association on a proposal from the Haute Autorité de santé.
The regional or inter-regional council has a disciplinary chamber of first instance, chaired by an administrative judge. As far as masseur-physiotherapists are concerned, this chamber has the same powers as the disciplinary chambers of first instance of the orders of the medical professions.
The disciplinary chamber of first instance sits in the regional or inter-regional council to which it belongs and hearings are held in the département where the council has its seat. It comprises full assessors and an equal number of alternate assessors. The assessors must be of French nationality.
The Disciplinary Chamber of First Instance is made up of a number of masseur-physiotherapists set by regulation.
It is made up of members elected by the regional or inter-regional council to which the chamber is attached, from among the members of the regional or inter-regional council to which it reports and from among the former members of the departmental, inter-departmental, regional and inter-regional councils of the Association.
When disputes concern relations between professionals and users, the disciplinary chamber is joined by two user representatives appointed by the Minister for Health.
