Several diabetes experts were escorted out of a medical conference by police after distributing an editorial critical of the Trump administration’s impact on scientific research. The incident unfolded on Friday morning at the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans, shortly before the planned speech by Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health.
An organizer informed attendees that Dr. Bhattacharya would not be speaking, and a senior NIH advisor would replace him. The involved researchers were distributing an editorial, recently published in the association’s journal, which criticized the effects of NIH budget cuts and other actions on diabetes research and outcomes.
Aaron Kelly, a University of Minnesota pediatrics professor and one of the escorted researchers, explained that security staff attempted to seize the editorial copies and led them outside. MedPage Today captured a video showing a heated exchange, including a uniformed man confronting an expert.
The researchers re-entered the convention center via another entrance but faced security and police again. “They were clearly trying to intimidate us,” stated Dr. Kelly. Justin Ryder, a pediatric obesity researcher, said police warned them of trespassing charges and potential arrests if they returned.
A Louisiana State Police public affairs representative mentioned that event organizers requested assistance to remove several individuals from the venue. Those removed reported that their badges were confiscated, and they were instructed not to return.
Potential Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa Raises Concerns of Rapid Spread 
Ebola Outbreak in Africa: A Serious Concern 
Gold and the Ebola Outbreak in Congo’s Mining Towns 
House Passes Bill for Veterans’ Benefit Increase 
Gene Editing in Human Embryos at Columbia University 
Melinda French Gates Commits $215 Million for Global Women’s Health