Long-time Shoreline pediatrician and past school board member Dr. Bill Schnall has surrendered his medical license and will retire.

Schnall, who practiced for almost 30 years, gave up his state license as part of an agreement with the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission after an investigation into allegations that he violated boundaries with a number of adolescent male patients. Schnall has been licensed as a physician and surgeon in the state since July 1973.

The state Department of Health board suspended Schnall’s license in 2005, pending his choice to fight the charges at a hearing, admit to the charge or enter into the negotiation process.

“In the course of negotiations, we came up with an agreement by which he surrendered his license,” said Donn Moyer, media relations manager for the health department, “and will not reapply ever.”

Surrendering a license is “not common,” Moyer said, but is a tool that can be used by a physician to avoid fighting charges. For the health board, the bottom line is patient safety, he said.

“Depending on the nature of allegations, we are looking for the strongest thing we can do to protect patient safety by trying to restrict or get someone out of practice,” Moyer said.

Hearings set to begin Monday, March 13, are no longer necessary. According to a news release from the Department of Health, “In the agreement, Schnall admits the evidence is sufficient to convince the commission he violated patient boundaries, which constitutes substandard practice and abuse of a patient.”

Schnall’s lawyer, John Gagliardi, said the agreement between his client and the commission was finalized on March 2. Schnall had no desire to proceed with the hearing, Gagliardi said.

“It would be a big public spectacle, he didn’t want to put himself, family, patients and colleagues through that,” Gagliardi said.

In the final order, Gagliardi said there was no finding regarding sexual behavior and that the final statement only indicates that Schnall practiced outside the standard of care by violating patient boundaries.

Despite the language in the agreement with the state, Schnall continues to deny all allegations of misconduct and still faces possible criminal charges and a civil suit, Gagliardi said.

King County Sheriff’s Office detectives are still reviewing the case for possible criminal charges, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor’s Office. He said a decision could be reached in the next several weeks.

Joann Hamick, spokeswoman for Richmond Beach Pediatric, where Schnall practiced, said his former colleagues are aware of his decision to surrender his license.

“They are on good terms with Schnall and support his decision,” Hamick said.

State Department of Health officials began investigating Schnall in April, 2005. The Medical Quality Assurance Commission alleged Schnall’s boundary violations were sexual in nature and occurred in the past two years with eight adolescent males. Schnall had the majority of contact with one male, according to commission documents.

According to the state report, Schnall financially assisted several of the patients, and many of those with whom he became involved are troubled adolescents, some of whom he treated since birth. Schnall was charged with inappropriately prescribing certain medications and interfering with the investigation by contacting a patient in a threatening manner after he was told by the agency and the patient to have no further contact.

Schnall served on the Shoreline School Board from November 1989-August 1996. He is married with children.