Texas lawyer fights medical board over ‘doctor’ title in campaign ads
A Texas lawyer, Reynaldo 'Rey' Gonzalez, has taken the state medical board to court over an order to stop claiming to be a doctor during his political campaign. The case marks a first for the Texas Medical Board, which has never disciplined someone for statements made during a political campaign.
Gonzalez, a graduate of medical school but never licensed as a doctor, referred to himself as both a physician and an attorney during his congressional campaign. The Texas Medical Board ordered him to cease this practice, citing violations of the Medical Practice Act and the Healing Arts Identification Act. Gonzalez, however, argues that the board is overstepping its authority and infringing on his political speech.
The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that Gonzalez's lawsuit challenging the medical board's order can proceed. The high court dismissed the board's argument about the timeliness of Gonzalez's claims, stating that he is seeking more than just a dismissal of the cease-and-desist order. The court also agreed that Gonzalez's claims should proceed at the trial court level to determine if the board's actions are constitutional.
The case of Reynaldo 'Rey' Gonzalez v. Texas Medical Board will now proceed to the trial court level. Here, the constitutionality of the medical board's order will be examined, with Gonzalez seeking protection from future sanctions. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how the Texas Medical Board handles political speech by non-licensed individuals.
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