The Texas Medical Board’s medical director retired from his role this week after conservative politicians and activists began publicly criticizing him for his work with Planned Parenthood.
Dr. Robert Bredt turned in his retirement notice on Tuesday, and his retirement went into effect that day, The Texas Tribune reported.
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Bredt’s sudden retirement was first reported by The Texas Tribune.
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Bredt’s resume became public when the Texas Medical Board submitted his credentials to be an expert witness during an ongoing battle between the board and an anti-vaccine Houston doctor, according to The Texas Tribune.
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Bredt’s resume listed two ongoing professional roles: medical director of the Texas Medical Board since 2012, and laboratory medical director of the Planned Parenthood of South Texas Laboratory, in San Antonio, since 2011.
Bredt’s LinkedIn profile and online biography do not specifically list Planned Parenthood.
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State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) then posted Bredt’s resume on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, at the end of December.
Today, my office sent a letter to the Texas Medical Board calling for the dismissal of Dr. Bredt.
The #txlege should closely examine the TMB and their recent decisions. pic.twitter.com/K5qTk7jmn7 — Briscoe Cain (@BriscoeCain) December 31, 2024
That same day, State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) posted on social media that his office had sent a letter to the Texas Medical Board calling for Bredt’s firing.
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“Recent revelations that Dr. Bredt simultaneously serves in any capacity with Planned Parenthood raises serious concerns about his ethics and ability to maintain the impartiality and integrity required of his role,” the letter said.
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Cain’s letter referred to Planned Parenthood as a “criminal organization” and “the kingpin of the abortion cartel.”
Planned Parenthood locations in Texas no longer provide abortion services since abortions were outlawed in Texas with only narrow exceptions for emergency situations. The clinics still provide birth control, STI testing and other forms of sexual health care.
The next day, Harrison posted a letter that he wrote to Gov. Greg Abbott, requesting that Bredt be terminated.
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“This fox must be removed from guardianship of the henhouse,” Harrison wrote in the letter to Abbott.
A few days later, Harrison posted again on social media, saying he told his staff “to call Texas Medical Board every morning until the Planned Parenthood official they put in charge of regulating Texas doctors is no longer employed.”
On Jan. 8, less than two weeks after Cain’s and Harrison’s initial social media posts, Harrison posted in celebration of Bredt’s retirement.
“WE WON!” he posted.
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🚨 WE WON! My office just confirmed that the Planned Parenthood official who was hired as Medical Director of the Texas Medical Board is no longer in that role.
Grateful for everyone who joined the call to end this insanity after we exposed it 10 days ago.
There should be an… — Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) January 8, 2025
A number of other conservative voices celebrated Bredt’s retirement on social media, too, including the Texas Family Project, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, state Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) and the Houston doctor whose battle with the board first led to the publication of Bredt’s resume.
Texas Medical Board director retires amid Planned Parenthood backlash
