# RO: David and Mark Geier **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 5, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791 "2011-05-05T02:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/1 "2011-05-05T02:33:20Z")
My first Pitting - of two fellows who make a living applying dangerous, unnecessary and expensive ‘treatments’ to autistic children. Since it’s my first time, I’ll let these brief quotes from the link speak for me [http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chibrknews-maryland-suspends-license-of-autism-doctor-20110504,0,2545323.story](http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chibrknews-maryland-suspends-license-of-autism-doctor-20110504,0,2545323.story) “A doctor who has treated children with autism with a drug sometimes used to chemically castrate sex offenders has had his medical license suspended” “Geier incorrectly diagnosed autistic children with the rare condition of precocious puberty – the early onset of puberty – and prescribed the drug Lupron, a powerful hormone-disrupting drug, the board found.” “Geier is not board certified in any field that is relevant to the diagnosis or treatment of autism. He is a genetic counselor, but according to the Maryland board order he has claimed to be a board-certified geneticist and an epidemiologist despite being neither.” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/2 "2011-05-05T02:53:45Z")
Who is David? There is no reference to a David in the linked story. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/3 "2011-05-05T02:59:27Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Who is David? There is no reference to a David in the linked story. Sorry - David is Mark’s son and co-worker. See here for more [Home - Neurodiversity in Business](http://neurodiversity.com/weblog/article/217/) “The order further describes an occasion when David Geier, who is not licensed to practice medicine, conducted a medical evaluation and diagnostic tests, made diagnoses, and recommended treatments for an autistic boy in Dr. Geier’s absence.” ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/4 "2011-05-05T04:58:18Z")
I really hope the rest of the states where he’s licensed follow suit. And then maybe they can shut down the franchise clinics these two have set up. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/5 "2011-05-05T12:43:23Z")
Cranks and con men have been able to make a good living battening on the fears and misconceptions of the parents of autistic children. In addition to those offering chemical castration of children, there are practitioners doing potentially dangerous chelation therapy to remove mercury or other heavy metals that are alleged to cause autism, and laboratories offering bogus tests for disease. You have to wonder why it took the state of Maryland so long to crack down on Mark Geier - his “treatments” have been going on for years. Apart from direct threats to kids’ health, the Geiers are known for [conducting flimsy “research”](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/25/science/25autism.html?pagewanted=all) into autism out of their home, and serving as “expert” witnesses in lawsuits. \*"(Mark Geier) and his son live and work in a two-story house in suburban Maryland. Past the kitchen and down the stairs is a room with cast-off, unplugged laboratory equipment, wall-to-wall carpeting and faux wood paneling that Dr. Geier calls “a world-class lab - every bit as good as anything at N.I.H.” Dr. Geier has been examining issues of vaccine safety since at least 1971, when he was a lab assistant at the National Institutes of Health, or N.I.H. His résumé lists scores of publications, many of which suggest that vaccines cause injury or disease. He has also testified in more than 90 vaccine cases, he said, although a judge in a vaccine case in 2003 ruled that Dr. Geier was “a professional witness in areas for which he has no training, expertise and experience.” In other cases, judges have called Dr. Geier’s testimony “intellectually dishonest,” “not reliable” and “wholly unqualified.”\* It will come as no surprise that some continue to rally to the Geiers’ support (just as they have for disgraced researcher Andrew Wakefield), viewing him as a persecuted martyr. More good commentary [here](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/05/why_not_just_castrate_them_part_6_the_st.php#more). ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/6 "2011-05-05T17:16:08Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Sorry - David is Mark’s son and co-worker. See here for more [Home - Neurodiversity in Business](http://neurodiversity.com/weblog/article/217/) > > “The order further describes an occasion when David Geier, who is not licensed to practice medicine, conducted a medical evaluation and diagnostic tests, made diagnoses, and recommended treatments for an autistic boy in Dr. Geier’s absence.” But, he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express! It is sad that these kids and their families are preyed upon by so many quacks and frauds that it impedes the real research and information from getting out there. (looking at you Jenny McCarthy) ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/7 "2011-05-05T17:37:12Z")
The Geiers are right up there, in my book, with Andrew Wakefield in terms of preying upon the fears of parents, and defrauding the public with bullshit. When I am elected goddess of the universe, they will all three share a cell with Jenny McCarthy. That cell will be next to a cage in which cats in heat are allowed to screech into a microphone that transmits to the largest, loudest speakers in existence. Forever. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/8 "2011-05-06T18:08:17Z")
And for more good news on the Geier front: [Maryland state officials are trying to remove David Geier from a state autism commission.](http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-doctor-suspension-20110505,0,7283787.story) The bigger question, of course, is how the chicken-fried fuck did he get named to the commission in the first fucking place? > [@](#): > > Paulson said the state was aware of “the controversial nature of David Geier’s views” when he was recommended for the position on the commission, which was formed by the legislature in 2009. But officials were looking for a “diverse” panel. You goat-felching idiots, diversity does not include having someone involves who is a Og-damned lunatic. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/9 "2011-05-07T02:54:58Z")
Collection of commentary on the license suspension > **[Autism "Treatment" Provider, Mark Geier MD: Medical License Suspended](https://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2011/05/autism-treatment-provider-mark-geier-md-medical-licence-suspended.html)** > > Updated May 27, 2011 Mark Geier's license to practice medicine in Washington is suspended Updated May 23, 2011 David Geier was removed from the Maryland Autism Commission. Update May 19, 2011 Mark Geier MD has been charged with unprofessional... ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/10 "2011-05-07T21:54:17Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > You goat-felching idiots, diversity does not include having someone involves who is a Og-damned lunatic. Well, he’s _also_ Jewish… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/11 "2011-05-19T23:26:31Z")
Update: the son, David, now busted for practicing medicine without a license [Health News - Baltimore Sun](http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-david-geier-charged-20110519,0,3290629.story?track=rss) ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/12 "2011-05-19T23:42:53Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Update: the son, David, now busted for practicing medicine without a license [http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-david-geier-charged-20110519,0,3290629.story?track=rss](http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-david-geier-charged-20110519,0,3290629.story?track=rss) Thank you Jesus. It’s about fucking time. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/13 "2011-08-03T00:07:18Z")
By the way, Dr. Geier’s license has been suspended in other states as well See [Castration doctor’s license nowsuspended in four states](http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/1812) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/14 "2011-08-03T00:08:58Z")
Thank goodness; I know drugs can be used off-label, but that was such quackery that they promised miracles with. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-david-and-mark-geier/580791/15 "2011-08-03T00:21:17Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > The Geiers are right up there, in my book, with Andrew Wakefield in terms of preying upon the fears of parents, and defrauding the public with bullshit. When I am elected goddess of the universe, they will all three share a cell with Jenny McCarthy. That cell will be next to a cage in which cats in heat are allowed to screech into a microphone that transmits to the largest, loudest speakers in existence. Forever. No, the cell needs to be next to a roomful of autistic children who are having meltdowns. Actually, no cell, they need to be close enough to get punched, kicked, bitten, pinched by the kids they’ve screwed. No kid should ever ever ever have to endure Lupron treatment unless there is serious medical reason for it. I had the unpleasant experience of doing three months on it for endometriosis so we’d know whether or not a hysterectomy would help me. It was awful. It throws you into chemical menopause, but unlike nature, the transformation is NOT gradual. It’s no fun at all. Seeing as how science hasn’t even figured out what exactly causes autism, stories of hormones and chelation and all of this makes me see red. There’s a special place in hell for these hucksters.