A group of five leading researchers was ejected from the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in New Orleans on Friday. The reason for their removal was that they were handing out copies of an editorial published in the journal Diabetes Care, which sharply criticized the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on scientific research.
The scientists affected by this incident are Steven Kahn, professor of medicine at the University of Washington and editor-in-chief of Diabetes Care; Desmond Schatz, former ADA president and a researcher from the University of Florida; Aaron Kelly, pediatrics processor at the University of Minnesota; Justin Ryder of Northwestern University; and Irl Hirsch, also of the University of Washington. They were distributing reprints of the editorial outside a room where NIH director Jay Bhattacharya was scheduled to speak.
Bhattacharya ultimately cancelled his appearance, and another NIH official spoke in his place. The ejected scientists claimed that they were physically grabbed by event security personnel and forced out of the conference center. Their lanyards were confiscated as well.
According to Aaron Kelly, one of the affected researchers, this incident is a clear example of censorship at work. In an interview with MedPage Today, he stated: “They’re taking our lanyards. It really has come to this in America. Censorship is real. America needs to stand up. Scientists, stand up. Physicians, stand up.” Kelly’s comments sparked a wave of online backlash against the ADA’s actions.
The ADA responded by stating that the ejected scientists had violated their code of conduct for conferences. The organization claimed that they demonstrated behavior “not consistent with this code of conduct” and were therefore removed from the meeting. However, some have questioned how handing out reprints of an editorial published in the ADA’s own journal could be considered a violation.
The incident has raised concerns about censorship and the suppression of scientific dissent. The scientists’ actions can be seen as a form of protest against the Trump administration’s policies, which they believe are detrimental to scientific research. As stated in their editorial: “It is no longer enough to stand idly by or work behind the scenes with lawmakers.” The authors argue that it is time for scientists and healthcare professionals to take a more active role in fighting against these policies.
The ADA’s actions have sparked a heated debate about the role of scientific institutions in promoting free speech and dissent. As the incident continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the issue at hand goes beyond just the removal of five scientists from a conference. It raises questions about the future of scientific research and the freedom to express opinions in the face of adversity.
**Update**: This article has been updated with additional information regarding the ADA’s response to the incident.
Source: Original article