Chapter IV: Criminal provisions.

Medical doctors and pharmacist public health inspectors, inspectors from regional health agencies, inspectors from the Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) and all persons authorised to ascertain breaches of legislation on the prevention of fraud are authorised to investigate and ascertain the breaches referred to in article L. 4344-3.

Speech and language therapists, orthoptists and students studying for one or other of the certificates of qualification are bound by professional secrecy under the conditions and subject to the reservations set out in articles 226-13 and 226-14 of the French Penal Code.

The offences referred to in articles L. 4163-3 and L. 4163-4 are applicable to speech and language therapists and orthoptists and are punishable by two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros. In the event of conviction, temporary disqualification from practising the profession for a period of up to ten years may be imposed as an additional penalty by the courts or tribunals.

Illegal practice of the profession of speech and language therapist or orthoptist is punishable by one year’s imprisonment and a fine of €15,000. Natural persons are also liable to the following additional penalties: a) Posting or distributing the decision handed down, in accordance with the conditions set out in article 131-35 of the Criminal Code ; b) Confiscation of the thing that was used or intended to be used to…

Any person practising orthoptics, within the meaning of article L. 4342-1, who does not hold a certificat de capacité d’orthoptiste or one of the diplomas or certificates of study in orthoptics established by the Minister of Education prior to the creation of the said certificat or any other qualification referred to in article L. 4342-4 required to practise as an orthoptist, or who does not fall within the provisions of…

Any person who practises speech and language therapy within the meaning of article L. 4341-1 is practising the profession of speech and language therapist illegally without : 1° holding a certificate of competence in speech and language therapy ; 2° Hold one of the diplomas or certificates of study in speech and language therapy issued by the Minister for Education prior to the creation of the certificate referred to in…

The unauthorised use of the title of speech and language therapist or orthoptist or of a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications legally required for the practice of these professions is punishable in the same way as the offence of usurpation of a title provided for in article 433-17 of the French Penal Code. Legal entities declared criminally liable, under the conditions set out in article 121-2 of…