The committee elects its chairman and vice-chairman from among the full practitioners who are members. However, when permanent practitioners do not form the majority of the medical, odontological and pharmaceutical staff of the establishment, the internal regulations may provide that the chairman and vice-chairman are elected from among all the members of the committee.
For university hospital centres, the committee elects its chairman from among the teaching and hospital staff and its vice-chairman from among the tenured practitioners. However, if there is no candidate from among the teaching and university staff, the chairman may be elected from among the establishment’s tenured practitioners.
Voting is by secret uninominal ballot and requires an absolute majority. If this majority is not achieved in the first two rounds, a third round is organised. A relative majority is sufficient for the third round. In the event of a tie between the candidates with the highest number of votes, the oldest of them shall be declared elected.
The term of office of the Chairman of the Institutional Medical Board is four years. The term of office may be renewed once. However, to take account of local circumstances and in the interests of the service, the Director General of the Regional Health Agency responsible for the hospital may, in exceptional circumstances, authorise the election for a third term by means of a reasoned order.
The term of office of the Chairman may exceptionally be reduced or extended, in the interests of the service, by a period not exceeding one year, by order of the Director General of the Regional Health Agency responsible for the institution.