ON ASSOCIATES: REQUIREMENTS AND ADMISSION PROCEDURE AND TYPES
Article 27.- The members of the Association can be those persons who request to be so and meet the following conditions:

– To be of legal age and not be subject to any legal condition in order to exercise their right, and their capacity is not limited in virtue of firm court ruling.
– To be a professional in the field of breast surgery.
– To have a professional career deemed as appropriate by the admission board in order to belong to the Association.

Article 28.- Those who wish to join the Association, shall make a request in writing endorsed by two partners and addressed to the Chair, who shall inform the Board of Directors, which shall decide on the admission or non-admission, whereby the applicant can appeal before the General Assembly.

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATES
Article 29.- All the associates have the following rights:

1) To challenge the agreements and actions contrary to the Law of Associations or the Rules of association, within the period of forty calendar days, starting from the day on which the claimant was aware, or has the opportunity to be aware, of the contents of the agreement challenged.
2) To be informed about the composition of the governing bodies and representation of the association, of its statement of accounts and of the development of its activity.
3) To be aware, at all times, of the identity of all other members of the Association, the statement of accounts for income and expenditure, and the development of its activity, in the terms set out in the regulations on personal data protection.
4) To be called to the General Assemblies, to attend them and exercise the right to take part and vote at the General Assemblies, whereby they can confer, for this purpose, their representation to other members.
5) To participate, in accordance with these Rules of association, in the Association’s governing bodies, whereby they are voter and eligible for them.
6) To appear in the Associates file established in the legislation in force, and make use of the Association’s emblem, where appropriate.
7) To have a copy of the Rules of association and of the Internal Regulations where these exist, and present requests and complaints before the governing bodies.
8) To participate in the Association’s collective acts, and enjoy the elements aimed for common use by the partners (social premises, libraries, etc.).
9) To be heard in writing, prior to the adoption of disciplinary measures, and be informed of the causes that have lead to them, which can only be based on the non-compliance of their duties as associates.
10) To withdraw at any time, without detriment to the commitments acquired pending compliance.

Article 30.- The following are duties of the associates:

a) To share the purposes of the association and collaborate in achieving these.
b) To pay the fees, calls for funds and other contributions which, in accordance with the Rules of association, may correspond to each associate.
c) To comply with all the other obligations that may arise from the Rules of association.
d) To obey and comply with agreements validly adopted by governing bodies of the association.

LOSS OF THE STATUS OF ASSOCIATE
Article 31.- The condition of partner shall be lost in the following cases:

1. Due to death, or, dissolution of legal persons (where applicable).
2. Due to voluntary separation.
3. Due to separation by sanction, agreed by the Management Board, when any of the following circumstances occurs: serious repeated and deliberate non-compliance with the duties emanated from these Rules of association, or, from the agreements validly adopted by the General Assembly or Board of Directors.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Article 32.- The persons associated can be disciplined by the Board of Directors for repeatedly infringing the Rule of association or the agreements of the General Assembly or the Board of Directors.

The sanctions can include from the suspension of rights, from 15 days to one month, to the definitive separation, in the terms set out in the following articles.
For these purposes, the Chair can agree to open an investigation to clarify the conduct that may be punishable. The actions shall be carried out by the Secretary, as the instructive body, who shall propose to the Board of Directors the adoption of the appropriate measures.

The imposition of sanctions shall be the duty of the Board of Directors, without the participation of the Secretary (as it is the instructive body), and it must be preceded by the audience of the interested person. They can appeal against this agreement, which shall always be backed by reasons, before the General Assembly.

Article 33.- Should an associate’s conduct allegedly constitute cause for separation from the Association, through serious, repeated and deliberate failure by the associate to perform his or her duties under the present Rules of Association or resolutions validly passed by the General Assembly and Board of Directors, the Chair may give the Secretary orders to make certain preliminary fact-finding enquiries, as a result of which the Chair may give orders either to shelve disciplinary procedures or to open a file with the aim of separating the associate.

Article 34.- If disciplinary proceedings for separation are initiated, the Secretary, after verifying the facts, shall inform the interested person in writing stating the charges attributed to them, which they shall be able to answer pleading what they consider appropriate in their defense in a period of fifteen days after which, in any case, this matter shall be included in the Agenda of the first session of the Board of Directors, which it shall agree as appropriate, without the Secretary’s vote, as they have acted as the instructor of the sanction.

The separation agreement shall be notified to the interested person, informing them that they can appeal against it before the first Extraordinary General Assembly to be held, and if this is not called within three months, it must be called for this purpose exclusively. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors shall be able to agree that the person accused is suspended as regards their rights as associate and, if they were part of the Board of Directors, it must decree the suspension of their position.

In the case that the separation action is raised before the General Assembly, the Secretary shall draw up a summary of this, to enable the Board of Directors to inform at the General Assembly about the written document presented by the person accused, and duly inform of the events to enable the Assembly to adopt the corresponding agreement.

Article 35.- The separation agreement, which shall always be supported by reasons, must be communicated to the interested person, whereby they can exercise their right to appeal before the Courts, when they deem that it is contrary to the Law or the Rules of association.

Article 36.- On informing an associate of their separation from the Association, whether voluntary or as a result of a sanction, they shall be required to comply with the obligations they have pending, where appropriate.