The Texas Medical Board’s medical director has stepped down just days after conservative legislators highlighted his connection to a Planned Parenthood laboratory.
Dr. Robert Bredt had served as the medical director for the state’s medical licensing agency since 2012, with an annual salary of $185,000. Although the licensing board members are appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, the medical director is chosen by the agency’s leaders.
Bredt’s background includes work at Planned Parenthood South Texas Laboratory since 2011 and recent positions at Genics Laboratory in both Las Vegas and San Antonio from 2022. At the age of 62, Bredt is also a professor, consultant, and laboratory inspector.
According to a spokesperson from the medical board, Bredt’s retirement paperwork was submitted on a Tuesday, marking his final day in the role. Bredt chose not to offer any comments regarding his departure.
This situation has roots in a broader controversy surrounding COVID-19 treatments rather than reproductive health discussions. The Texas Medical Board has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Houston-based ear, nose, and throat specialist known for her anti-vaccine views and her use of ivermectin for COVID treatment. Earlier in 2023, the board filed a complaint against Bowden, alleging that she breached standards of care and violated patient-doctor confidentiality by treating a COVID-19 patient without conducting an examination.
Bowden’s refusal to settle led to her case being heard before an administrative law judge, where Bredt was put forward as an expert witness regarding the board’s procedures. The motion submitted included Bredt’s resume, revealing his affiliation with the Planned Parenthood lab.
State Representative Brian Harrison, a conservative voice from Midlothian and a critic of the medical board, stated that he acted quickly to disclose this information after learning of Bredt’s employment.
“There’s a certain irony in the fact that in their effort to pursue a doctor, they inadvertently revealed that their medical director is also associated with Planned Parenthood,” Harrison remarked.
Following this revelation, Harrison shared Bredt’s resume on social media and sent a letter to Governor Abbott, demanding Bredt’s ouster. He announced intentions to introduce legislation aimed at defunding the medical board and committed to daily communications with the agency until action was taken against Bredt.
“We cannot have someone associated with Planned Parenthood overseeing matters of healthcare for our state,” he expressed in his letter to Abbott.
Harrison also suggested that Abbott should instruct all state agencies to ensure that none of their employees are affiliated with Planned Parenthood. Although there are no existing laws forbidding state employees from working for Planned Parenthood, the organization has long been a target of opposition from Texas conservatives. The state has forfeited substantial Federal funding to keep Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program, resulting in numerous family planning clinics shutting down. Presently, the state is pursuing a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood amounting to $1.8 billion, aiming to undermine the organization financially.
While Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas do not provide abortions currently, the organization remains a focal point of conservative animosity. In a communication to members of the Texas Medical Board, State Representative Briscoe Cain of Deer Park harshly criticized Planned Parenthood, branding it as a “criminal enterprise.”
In response to the situation, Laura Terrill, CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, accused politicians of misusing their time and resources for political posturing.
“Dr. Bredt’s tenure at Planned Parenthood South Texas underscores his commitment to delivering high-quality medical care,” Terrill stated. “Planned Parenthoods in Texas adhere to the law without exception, and we will maintain compliance with state and federal regulations while prioritizing essential health services for the thousands of Texans who rely on us.”
Harrison expressed satisfaction at Bredt’s departure from state employment but voiced frustration over his initial hiring. He has called for an investigation into the medical board’s practices and signaled he may pursue legislation to defund the board.
This incident is not Harrison’s first campaign against state agencies, as he previously claimed responsibility for Texas A&M eliminating its LGBTQ studies minor, despite the university stating he had no involvement. He also influenced the Texas Workforce Commission to remove language from its website regarding the investigation of gender identity discrimination complaints.