Guaranteed Autism Prevention! Oh, really?

There's no doubt that autism represents a significant health issue, not just in the U.S., but around the world. Current estimates put the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at around 1 in 88 children. Over the years, awareness of ASDs has increased; tests and diagnostic tools have been developed that can detect ASDs earlier and within a wider range of severities; and diagnostic criteria have shifted, generally leading to more inclusive criteria, meaning that a greater number of less severe cases are diagnosed. For those families dealing with more severe autism, the burden can be incredible, physically, emotionally and financially. Frequent, violent behavior from those more severely affected, as well as bolting or self-injurious behaviors, can wear a person out very quickly. Going out is often difficult, due in part to the needed vigilance and in part because of the lack of understanding from members of the public; families tend to withdraw and become isolated, lacking the emotional support they need day by day. States are beginning to enact legislation that requires insurance companies to cover certain autism treatments, but there is still a long, long way to go to ensure that those who need services get them without undue financial burden and stress. Even with good health coverage, there may be other costs to bear, such as respite care or remodeling of the home space to meet the needs and challenges of autistic family members. (This is not to say that all people with ASDs deal with this level of hardship; there is a broad range, from those requiring professional support to those who are "quirky".)

Thus it should come as no surprise that wanting to prevent autism in the first place would be a godsend. Part of the difficulty, however, lies in the fact that, to date, we know very little about the causes of autism. We know about congenital rubella syndrome, Fragile X and Reyes' Syndrome as causes of ASDs, and current research strongly hints at multiple genetic and prenatal factors that could play some role in ASDs. But without solid understanding of how autism comes about in the first place, there is not a whole lot that we can do to prevent it.

Enter Dr. David Berger of Wholistic Pediatrics in Tampa, FL. Dr. Berger was interviewed by Heather VanNest, an anchor with WTSP 10 News, in an article titled How to prevent autism: 3 ways to lower the risk.

Complaint Filed Against Dr. Mark Geier in Florida

This somehow slipped past my notice. In October, it looks like the Florida Department of Health filed a complaint against Dr. Mark Geier (PDF). I've written about Dr. Geier a few times. This is the guy who, with his son, David (who is not a doctor), came up with an idea that testosterone binds to mercury and thus causes autism. His treatment? Chelate autistic children after giving them lupron, a drug that is used to treat precocious puberty, as part of IVF treatment and to chemically castrate sex offenders. If you are interested in the details, take a look at some of my other posts.

At any rate, Dr. Geier has (or had) a license to practice medicine in several different states. However, a total of 6 states have suspended his license. This all started with Maryland, where he was charged with a number of breaches of proper medical conduct. This was soon followed by other states summarily suspending his licenses in those states. His license has expired in a seventh state, and his application to practice in an eighth is on hold, due to the numerous suspensions he is under. He is still licensed to practice in 5 states, including Florida, though that may change sooner rather than later.