The chairman and members of the commission are appointed by order of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health for a renewable period of five years. A number of alternates equal to the number of full members, excluding the chairman, are appointed under the same conditions as the full members. They attend meetings of the Commission in the absence of the full member.
At the first meeting of the committee, the members present appoint a vice-chairman from among their number to chair the committee in the absence of the chairman.
In the event of the death, resignation or termination for any other reason of a member of the committee, that member shall be replaced by his or her alternate, who shall become the full member for the remainder of the term. The Chairman may propose, after duly hearing the interested party, that a member who has been absent from more than three consecutive meetings for which he has not been replaced be replaced under the same conditions. A new substitute shall then be appointed in accordance with the conditions laid down in this article.