Geier family

{{altmed}}
'''Mark Robin Geier''' {{lived|1948}} and '''David A. Geier'''{{efn|Not to be confused with the orthopedic surgeon David Geir, who is ''not'' antivax<ref>[https://drdavidgeier.com/work-with-me/about/ Dr. David Geier]</ref>}} are a 
[[German humor|couple of vultures]]
{{efn|"Geier" is German for "vulture" and the behavior of these two practically forces this association upon any German-speaker and the unfortunate birds who are dragged into this.}} father-son team of [[American]] [[Anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaccine advocates]] who specialize in [[quack]] cures for [[autism]].

The Geiers are perhaps best known for their truly bizarre theories regarding androgens and [[mercury]]. In 2004, Geier advanced a [[hypothesis]] that testosterone increases the potency of mercury.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15780490 The potential importance of steroids in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders and other disorders involving mercury toxicity].  Note that the organization that published this nonsense is not peer reviewed.</ref>  This led the Geiers to invent and [[patent]] a therapy regimen of [[chelation]] and [[Lupron]],<ref>The patents are [http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=geier.IN.&s2=autism.AB.&OS=IN/geier+AND+ABST/autism&RS=IN/geier+AND+ABST/autism here] and [http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=3&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=geier.IN.&s2=autism.AB.&OS=IN/geier+AND+ABST/autism&RS=IN/geier+AND+ABST/autism here]</ref> an anti-androgen.  Lupron is normally only given to children who show signs of precocious puberty,<ref>http://www.drugs.com/lupron.html</ref> so what the Geiers suggested was way off-label.<ref group=note>Not to mention incredibly unethical.</ref>  Their solution?  Declare that all the children in their studies had precocious puberty.<ref>[http://neurodiversity.com/weblog/article/83/autism-testosterone-lupron-playing-with-fire Autism & Lupron: Playing With Fire]</ref>

This regimen is, to put it mildly, controversial among actual [[scientist]]s in relevant fields.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-autism-lupron-may21,0,242705.story 'Miracle drug' called junk science]</ref> Fortunately, as of 2009 they no longer have access to Lupron.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-autism-lupron-geiers-may21,0,983359.story Physician team's crusade shows cracks]</ref>

As of early May 2011, the Geiers' controversial "therapy" has been found to be a concern by the [[Maryland]] State Board of Physicians.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120227173050/https://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/05/why_not_just_castrate_them_part_6_the_st.php Why not just castrate them? (Part 6): The State of Maryland finally takes "emergency action" against Mark Geier and his Lupron protocol for autism] by David H. Gorski (Orac) (May 4, 2011 12:30 AM) ''Science Blogs'' (archived from February 27, 2012).</ref> Fortunately, they have also decided that Mark Geier's therapies pose such a threat to children with autism that he was stripped of his medical license.<ref>[https://www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp/Orders/D2425004.271.PDF Court filing of suspension]</ref> David Geier, his son, is not and has never been a doctor of any kind, and in the same case was charged with practising medicine without a license.<ref>[https://quackwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/quackwatch/casewatch/board/med/geier/d_geier_charges.pdf In the Matter of David A. Geier Before the Maryland State board of Physicians] Case numbers 2008-0022 & 2009-0318 (May 16, 2011) via ''Quackwatch''.</ref>

In 2025, David Geier was appointed by the [[Donald Trump|Trump]] administration to oversee a government study on vaccines and autism.<ref>[https://archive.ph/l3Ute Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism: A long-discredited researcher and vaccine skeptic will conduct a government study on whether vaccines cause autism] by  Lena H. Sun & Fenit Nirappil (March 25, 2025) ''The Washington Post'' (archived from 25 Mar 2025 21:45:34 UTC).</ref>

==Publications==
*Geier DA, Geier MR (2004): "A comparative evaluation of the effects of MMR immunization and mercury doses from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines on the population prevalence of autism",<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14976450</ref> ''Medical Science Monitor''

==See also==
*[[Age of Autism]]
*[[Vaccine hysteria]]

==External links==
*[http://quackfiles.blogspot.com/2005/03/mark-geier-untrustworthy-autism.html Mark Geier Untrustworthy: Autism, Thimerosal, Vaccinations] via [http://quackfiles.blogspot.com Confessions of a Quackbuster]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|1|90%}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

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__NOTOC__
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Anti-vaccination movement]]
[[Category:Autism woo]]
[[Category:Chemophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mental health woo]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoters]]
[[Category:Trump administration]]

Categories: Alternative medicine promoters, Anti-vaccination movement, Autism woo, Chemophobes, Living people, Mental health woo, Pseudoscience promoters, Trump administration