Name and place of registration
(1) A Council consisting of national delegates from European countries shall be constituted and entitled the “European Council of Legal Medicine”. hereinafter referred to as the ”ECLM”.
(2) The ECLM in incorporated with the place of registration at Cologne, Germany.
(2) The ECLM in incorporated with the place of registration at Cologne, Germany.
Aims and Scope
(1) The ECLM shall be the official body dealing with matters relating to Legal and Forensic Medicine in Europe.
(2) The ECLM shall deal with all scientific, educational and professional principles and matters pertaining to this discipline on a European level.
(3) The ECLM shall especially pursue the recognition of the discipline and harmonisation of practices and quality assurance in the speciality at European level.
(4) The persons professing this discipline shall be medically qualified persons involved in the investigation and assessment of unexpected and / or unnatural deaths, bodily harm or personal injury within the framework of the legal system and / or in the teaching of this speciality.
(2) The ECLM shall deal with all scientific, educational and professional principles and matters pertaining to this discipline on a European level.
(3) The ECLM shall especially pursue the recognition of the discipline and harmonisation of practices and quality assurance in the speciality at European level.
(4) The persons professing this discipline shall be medically qualified persons involved in the investigation and assessment of unexpected and / or unnatural deaths, bodily harm or personal injury within the framework of the legal system and / or in the teaching of this speciality.
Membership
(1) The ECLM shall be composed of Delegates of the countries of the European Union (EU) and from other countries which form part of Europe, provided that in them Legal and Forensic Medicine is either fully recognised as a discipline and / or has an established university academic structure and / or another official structure which the ECLM after due consideration, deems to be of an equivalent standing.
(2) Up to three (3) members can be delegated into the ECLM from each country under § 3.1. Any additional delegate which an individual country wishes to delegate, can attend the meetings of the ECLM but they shall be granted an Observer, non-voting status only.
(3) Named “Deputies” for the national members can be designated by the individual member countries. These Deputies shall only attend meetings when the designated national Delegates are unable to do so. When they do attend they shall be accorded full voting rights.
(4) The national Delegates shall be persons of standing in the discipline and shall be nominated by the ECLM General Assembly. The opinions of national medical association(s) and / or of national medico-legal or forensic specialist organisation(s), national body or scientific association, academic departments, and / or by any other relevant government authority which the ECLM deems to have the appropriate standing, may be taken in consideration.
(5) All such bodies and institutions are entitled to propose Delegates and asked to confer among themselves to ensure that the persons nominated are truly representative of the interests of the discipline in that individual country. Each country shall be asked to consider fully the aims and scope of the ECLM in selecting theirs proposed representatives.
(6) Delegates designated for the ECLM should preferably be of a senior academic or professional status. The General Assembly of the ECLM (§ 4.3) shall decide by majority vote on the acceptance of named Delegates as members of the ECLM.
(7) The joint body formed by the national representatives shall be called the “General Assembly” of the ECLM.
(8) A committee shall be elected by the General Assembly and authorised to manage the affairs of the ECLM and this shall be called the “Executive Committee” of the ECLM.
(9) Membership of the ECLM shall be terminated by written notice of withdrawal, by professional retirement, by death or by disqualification of the delegate. Notice of withdrawal shall be submitted in writing by registered signed letter to the Executive Committee of the ECLM.
(10) Disqualification of Delegates can be effected if it is brought to the attention of the Executive Committee that a delegate is deemed to have been involved in activities which are contrary to the aims of the ECLM and/ or which are detrimental to the good name and professional standing of the discipline of Legal and Forensic Medicine.
(11) In disqualification cases, the Delegate in question shall have the option of appeal to the General Assembly at its next meeting. An intention to appeal must be communicated in writing to the Executive Committee.
(2) Up to three (3) members can be delegated into the ECLM from each country under § 3.1. Any additional delegate which an individual country wishes to delegate, can attend the meetings of the ECLM but they shall be granted an Observer, non-voting status only.
(3) Named “Deputies” for the national members can be designated by the individual member countries. These Deputies shall only attend meetings when the designated national Delegates are unable to do so. When they do attend they shall be accorded full voting rights.
(4) The national Delegates shall be persons of standing in the discipline and shall be nominated by the ECLM General Assembly. The opinions of national medical association(s) and / or of national medico-legal or forensic specialist organisation(s), national body or scientific association, academic departments, and / or by any other relevant government authority which the ECLM deems to have the appropriate standing, may be taken in consideration.
(5) All such bodies and institutions are entitled to propose Delegates and asked to confer among themselves to ensure that the persons nominated are truly representative of the interests of the discipline in that individual country. Each country shall be asked to consider fully the aims and scope of the ECLM in selecting theirs proposed representatives.
(6) Delegates designated for the ECLM should preferably be of a senior academic or professional status. The General Assembly of the ECLM (§ 4.3) shall decide by majority vote on the acceptance of named Delegates as members of the ECLM.
(7) The joint body formed by the national representatives shall be called the “General Assembly” of the ECLM.
(8) A committee shall be elected by the General Assembly and authorised to manage the affairs of the ECLM and this shall be called the “Executive Committee” of the ECLM.
(9) Membership of the ECLM shall be terminated by written notice of withdrawal, by professional retirement, by death or by disqualification of the delegate. Notice of withdrawal shall be submitted in writing by registered signed letter to the Executive Committee of the ECLM.
(10) Disqualification of Delegates can be effected if it is brought to the attention of the Executive Committee that a delegate is deemed to have been involved in activities which are contrary to the aims of the ECLM and/ or which are detrimental to the good name and professional standing of the discipline of Legal and Forensic Medicine.
(11) In disqualification cases, the Delegate in question shall have the option of appeal to the General Assembly at its next meeting. An intention to appeal must be communicated in writing to the Executive Committee.
Executive Committee
(1) An Executive Committee (also known as “the Board”) shall be elected from the voting delegated membership by the General Assembly of the ECLM. The immediate ECLM Past-President, will also be member of the Executive Committee.
(2) The Executive Committee of the ECLM shall be composed of nine (9) members and shall administer the affairs of the ECLM and be empowered to carry out such functions delegated to it by the General Assembly between meetings of the General Assembly provided that the Executive Committee reports all such decisions to the General Assembly.
(3) The office-bearers of the Executive Committee shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
(4) The office-bearers shall be elected by a simple anonymous ballot at the first meeting of the Executive Committee and shall be notified to all the members of the General Assembly by the Secretary of the outgoing Executive Committee.
(5) The full composition of the Executive Committee shall be notified to all the members of the General Assembly by the Secretary as soon as possible after the election.
(6) No country shall have more than one elected member on the Executive Committee of the ECLM.
(7) The period of office of the Executive Committee shall be two (2) years or until the subsequent General Assembly election of the Executive Committee if later. Re-election shall be possible but no delegate should serve more than six (6) consecutive years on the Executive Committee, with the exception of the Past-President. A number of the members of the outgoing Executive Committee, not exceeding three (3), could be eligible for reelection for one further term but then be required to stand down at the subsequent General Assembly.
(8) Decisions in the Executive Committee of the ECLM shall be reached on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the event of a tied vote, the President shall have the deciding vote.
(9) The Executive Committee shall have authority to appoint Scientific Committees of recognised experts in the discipline of Legal and Forensic Medicine to advise the Executive Committee relating to specified purposes consistent with the aims and scope of the ECLM for such periods as designated from time to time.
(2) The Executive Committee of the ECLM shall be composed of nine (9) members and shall administer the affairs of the ECLM and be empowered to carry out such functions delegated to it by the General Assembly between meetings of the General Assembly provided that the Executive Committee reports all such decisions to the General Assembly.
(3) The office-bearers of the Executive Committee shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
(4) The office-bearers shall be elected by a simple anonymous ballot at the first meeting of the Executive Committee and shall be notified to all the members of the General Assembly by the Secretary of the outgoing Executive Committee.
(5) The full composition of the Executive Committee shall be notified to all the members of the General Assembly by the Secretary as soon as possible after the election.
(6) No country shall have more than one elected member on the Executive Committee of the ECLM.
(7) The period of office of the Executive Committee shall be two (2) years or until the subsequent General Assembly election of the Executive Committee if later. Re-election shall be possible but no delegate should serve more than six (6) consecutive years on the Executive Committee, with the exception of the Past-President. A number of the members of the outgoing Executive Committee, not exceeding three (3), could be eligible for reelection for one further term but then be required to stand down at the subsequent General Assembly.
(8) Decisions in the Executive Committee of the ECLM shall be reached on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the event of a tied vote, the President shall have the deciding vote.
(9) The Executive Committee shall have authority to appoint Scientific Committees of recognised experts in the discipline of Legal and Forensic Medicine to advise the Executive Committee relating to specified purposes consistent with the aims and scope of the ECLM for such periods as designated from time to time.
Authorisation for Representation and ECLM Delegation
(1) Two (2) members of the Executive Committee shall be empowered to represent the ECLM in matters concerning § 26 of German Civil Law (e.g. registration matters).
(2) These members shall include either the President and/ or the Secretary.
(3) The President shall be empowered to establish and maintain a financial account in the President’s country for the aims and scope of the ECLM during that Presidency. Accounts shall be presented for audit to the Executive Committee at the beginning of each calendar year by the President and also presented to the Delegates at the following General Assembly.
(4) An ECLM delegation can be created in the country of the President in office.
(2) These members shall include either the President and/ or the Secretary.
(3) The President shall be empowered to establish and maintain a financial account in the President’s country for the aims and scope of the ECLM during that Presidency. Accounts shall be presented for audit to the Executive Committee at the beginning of each calendar year by the President and also presented to the Delegates at the following General Assembly.
(4) An ECLM delegation can be created in the country of the President in office.
Meetings
(1) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once (1) per year. The meeting will usually be in person but may also be incorporeal meeting by video or electronic means. The date and venue of the meetings shall be fixed by the Executive Committee and communicated in writing to all its member by the Secretary. Notification of these meetings should reach the members at least four (4) weeks prior to the allotted date of the meeting, except in an exceptional emergency situation.
(2) The General Assembly of the ECLM shall meet at least once (1) every two (2) years. The date and venue of the meeting shall by fixed by the Executive Committee of the ECLM and communicated to all the members in writing at least eight (8) weeks prior to the allotted date.
(3) Any Delegate may propose topics for inclusion in the agenda. Notification of these should be made in writing to the Secretary and these proposals should reach the Secretary at least four (4) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
(4) An Agenda bearing a list of the topics that will be discussed at meetings shall be drafted prior to each meeting by the President and Secretary and communicated to all the Delegates in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
(5) If more than thirty five per cent (35%) of the ECLM countries of the General Assembly demand an additional unscheduled meeting, the Executive Committee shall agree to this demand and an extraordinary meeting shall be convened in the approved manner within ten (10) weeks.
(6) In a meeting of the General Assembly of the ECLM, more than thirty per cent (30%) of the ECLM countries need to be present for a quorum to be constituted.
(7) In agreed exceptional situations voting may be carried out by a postal or electronic mail vote.
(8) The General Assembly shall be chaired by the president of the Executive Committee or in his absence by the Vice-President.
(9) Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary as a written record of all meetings. These minutes shall be approved as a complete and true record of a meeting and shall be signed by the President and the secretary at the subsequent meeting. Copies of the minutes shall be circulated to all the delegates with the agenda for the subsequent meeting.
(10) The working language, in which the official business of the ECLM shall be conducted, shall be English. During conferences and meeting, other languages of the European Union can be accepted.
(2) The General Assembly of the ECLM shall meet at least once (1) every two (2) years. The date and venue of the meeting shall by fixed by the Executive Committee of the ECLM and communicated to all the members in writing at least eight (8) weeks prior to the allotted date.
(3) Any Delegate may propose topics for inclusion in the agenda. Notification of these should be made in writing to the Secretary and these proposals should reach the Secretary at least four (4) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
(4) An Agenda bearing a list of the topics that will be discussed at meetings shall be drafted prior to each meeting by the President and Secretary and communicated to all the Delegates in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
(5) If more than thirty five per cent (35%) of the ECLM countries of the General Assembly demand an additional unscheduled meeting, the Executive Committee shall agree to this demand and an extraordinary meeting shall be convened in the approved manner within ten (10) weeks.
(6) In a meeting of the General Assembly of the ECLM, more than thirty per cent (30%) of the ECLM countries need to be present for a quorum to be constituted.
(7) In agreed exceptional situations voting may be carried out by a postal or electronic mail vote.
(8) The General Assembly shall be chaired by the president of the Executive Committee or in his absence by the Vice-President.
(9) Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary as a written record of all meetings. These minutes shall be approved as a complete and true record of a meeting and shall be signed by the President and the secretary at the subsequent meeting. Copies of the minutes shall be circulated to all the delegates with the agenda for the subsequent meeting.
(10) The working language, in which the official business of the ECLM shall be conducted, shall be English. During conferences and meeting, other languages of the European Union can be accepted.
Membership Fees
(1) The Executive Committee of the ECLM shall levy membership fees from the nominating bodies of all countries which have designate delegates to the General Assembly. Any such body in default of payment for two (2) years shall cease to be a nominating body and the nominated Delegate’s membership of the ECLM shall immediately terminate.
(2) The membership fee per delegate shall be set by the General Assembly at its first meeting and shall thereafter be reassessed and set on a bi-annual basis.
(3) These fees shall be collected by the Treasurer at the beginning of each calendar year.
(4) These fees shall form the fund for payment of the administrative expenses of the General Assembly. They shall also form the fund for payment of administrative and meeting expenses of the Executive Committee.
(5) The accounts of the ECLM shall be mailed for audit to the delegates at the beginning of each calendar year by the Treasurer.
(2) The membership fee per delegate shall be set by the General Assembly at its first meeting and shall thereafter be reassessed and set on a bi-annual basis.
(3) These fees shall be collected by the Treasurer at the beginning of each calendar year.
(4) These fees shall form the fund for payment of the administrative expenses of the General Assembly. They shall also form the fund for payment of administrative and meeting expenses of the Executive Committee.
(5) The accounts of the ECLM shall be mailed for audit to the delegates at the beginning of each calendar year by the Treasurer.
Alterations to Statutes
(1) Alterations to these Statutes shall be passed only by the General Assembly of the ECLM.
(2) A two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of the ECLM countries present at a meeting or communicating a verified postal or electronic vote shall be required for such alterations.
(2) A two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of the ECLM countries present at a meeting or communicating a verified postal or electronic vote shall be required for such alterations.
Dissolution of the Council
(1) The dissolution of the Council shall be considered only after an application from at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the ECLM countries is brought before the Executive Committee and shall be done three (3) months prior to a meeting of the General Assembly.
(2) For the resolution to dissolve the ECLM to be passed, a three-fourths (3/4ths) majority of the ECLM countries present shall be required as a minimum.
(2) For the resolution to dissolve the ECLM to be passed, a three-fourths (3/4ths) majority of the ECLM countries present shall be required as a minimum.