The disciplinary sanctions applicable to associate practitioners are :
1° A warning ;
2° a reprimand
3° Temporary exclusion from service for a period not exceeding six months and deprivation of all remuneration;
4° Permanent exclusion from associate practitioner status.
These sanctions are pronounced by the director of the establishment to which the patient is assigned, after obtaining the opinion of the establishment’s medical committee.
The director of the establishment to which the patient is assigned initiates the disciplinary procedure by referring the matter to the establishment’s medical committee and inviting it to give its opinion within two months. If the committee does not give its opinion within this period, the opinion of its chairman alone is required. In this case, the opinion of the committee chairman is given within a further period of fifteen days or is deemed to have been given within this period.
The person concerned shall be informed without delay of the initiation of disciplinary proceedings, and at least two months before a decision is taken, by any means capable of producing a date certain, of the charges against him and the penalties envisaged. At the same time, the employee will receive a copy of his file. He shall be given the opportunity to present oral or written observations and to be assisted by the defence counsel of his choice.
The Director of the institution to which the employee is assigned will make a decision within three months of the disciplinary procedure being initiated.
Reasons are given for any decision to impose a penalty.
The disciplinary measure is notified to the person concerned by any means capable of providing a date certain.
When one of the penalties mentioned in 2°, 3° and 4° of this article is imposed, the decision is forwarded to the practice authorisation commission mentioned in articles L. 4111-2 and L. 4221-12 and to the Director General of the Regional Health Agency. The decisions to impose the penalties referred to in 3° and 4° of this article are forwarded to the Director of the Centre National de Gestion. For associate practitioners assigned to a university hospital centre, the decision is also sent to the director of the training and research unit concerned.
When the sanction provided for in 3° is pronounced, the skills consolidation programme or the adaptation period may be extended by the duration of the temporary exclusion by the practice authorisation commission.