Autism quack Mark Geier loses licence

[indigojo]

The doctor half of the father-son autism therapy practice, Dr Mark Geier, has had his licence to practise suspended by the Maryland Board of Physicians (he still has a licence in 10 other states, however) after prescribing lupron, a potent anti-androgen drug, to autistic people as part of his theory that testosterone increases the toxicity of mercury. This article explains how Katherine Seidel, the author of the Neurodiversity Weblog and mother of a son with Asperger's syndrome, investigated and posted a "16-part takedown", while others (but not her) contacted the physicians' board.

The article alludes to lupron being used in the treatment of sex offenders; in fact, it's mostly used to treat prostate cancer as part of a combined therapy with cyproterone acetate (Androcur, most commonly sold these days as Siterone). The reason is that lupron produces a "testosterone surge" which can exacerbate testosterone-dependent cancers, while Androcur doesn't. They both have significant unpleasant side effects including gynaecomastia (that's men growing boobs). Depo Provera, the drug which is actually used on sex offenders, reduces male libido without causing these kinds of effects (although some women complain that it reduces their libido as well when used as a contraceptive).

The reason I mention all this is that various different justifications are used for prescribing anti-androgens to both male and female autistics; some are diagnosed with precocious puberty, some are claimed to be aggressive (sometimes sexually so), but the main reason seems to be the one about mercury, although some parents have said that their children have been on lupron for some time, yet the mercury is not being eliminated in their urine. I've heard it said that anti-androgens have been prescribed to control inappropriate sexual behaviour in people with autism, but lupron is completely the wrong drug to use, particularly as it is hugely expensive, costing hundreds of pounds or dollars for a single shot. Clearly the Geiers thought that an expensive drug would give a false impression of good quality.

Comments

[allies_person]

Here's to hoping more states follow Geier's lead--the man is doing a lot of damage to autistic people. Alexander Cheezem presented on this at last year's Autreat, and it was chilling to say the least. Yes, it really does seem as though some people are seeking Lupron for the purpose of inhibiting autistic people's sexuality, which is just all kinds of eww. Apparently the drug has been used, or at least is being proposed, as a method of castrating convicted sex offenders. I don't agree with forcibly doing that to convicted offenders--especially when the long-term side-effects are possibly quite dangerous--but doing it to people whose only crime is being autistic is beyond the pale. We have the right to be sexual beings, whether or not that disturbs the people around us.