A La Pine physician assistant will be returning to practice at the La Pine Community Clinic after the Oregon Medical Board placed him on 10 years’ probation but allowed him to keep his license.

In a final order on Aug. 14, the board found that Brice T. Stanley, 31, had engaged in unprofessional conduct, repeated acts of negligence and violated a board rule.

Specifically, the board confirmed the allegations of a female patient who said that on Dec. 5, 2006, Stanley touched her inappropriately, texted her personal messages via cell phone and performed treatments on her that he was not authorized to do.

In the order, Stanley acknowledged performing therapies outside his scope of practice and text messaging the woman, but he denied touching her inappropriately.

Stanley had been a physician assistant in La Pine until February, according to Chance Steffey, the director of the clinic. Then, fearing that the board would revoke his license, he left the clinic and moved to the Portland area, Steffey said.

Steffey said he did not agree with the medical board’s conclusion that Stanley had behaved inappropriately with patients.

“They had an overzealous investigator, in my mind,” he said. “If I felt that he was a danger to somebody, I would not be hiring him back.”

Steffey said he felt the investigation was unfair. Of the woman who accused Stanley of sexual misconduct, he said, “no one checked into their character or history.”

Stanley could not be reached for comment.

Allegations of sexual misconduct are often being investigated by the board, said Randy Day, a compliance officer with the Oregon Medical Board. But, he said, “much less than 1 percent of the people that are working have these sorts of complaints against them.”

Day also said that, oftentimes, even when allegations are proved, doctors can go back to work.

“In general terms, physicians under investigation by the board are represented by counsel,” he said, and the attorneys help negotiate for their clients.

But, he said, the board ensures safeguards in any agreement. “The board would not have entered into this agreement unless they felt like it was adequate to protect the public.”

When he does come back to La Pine, likely in September, said Steffey, Stanley will have significant restrictions on his practice. He will not be allowed to perform osteopathic manipulations, massage-type techniques, on patients and will have to have a female “chaperone” in the room with him during all clinical interactions with female patients, according to the board’s order.

Stanley is also required to complete a course on professional boundaries and must report to the board at quarterly meetings for an interview.

The victim reported the incident to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury later failed to indict Stanley on two counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual harassment.

The Sheriff’s Office investigation is closed.