Key facts
- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) apologized for removing five scientists from its annual meeting.
- The scientists were ejected for distributing an editorial critical of the Trump administration's effect on biomedical research.
- Police escorted the scientists out, confiscated their badges, and threatened arrest.
- ADA CEO Charles Henderson personally apologized in a video, calling the incident uncharacteristic.
- The apology contrasts with the ADA's initial statements justifying the ejection based on a code of conduct violation.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) issued an apology after forcefully removing five leading diabetes scientists from its annual meeting in New Orleans. The scientists were ejected on Friday for distributing copies of an April editorial published in the ADA's journal, Diabetes Care, which sharply criticized the Trump administration's impact on biomedical research.
Police reportedly escorted the scientists out of the conference, confiscated their badges, and threatened arrest. Louisiana State Police stated they acted at the ADA's request. The ADA subsequently barred the five scientists from the remainder of the conference.
In a video posted Wednesday, ADA CEO Charles Henderson personally apologized to the scientists, including Steven Kahn (editor-in-chief of Diabetes Care), former ADA President Desmond Schatz, Aaron Kelly, Justin Ryder, and Irl Hirsch. Henderson stated the incident was not reflective of his values or the organization's. This apology stands in contrast to the ADA's earlier statements that attempted to justify the decision, with a media team initially stating the attendees violated the conference's code of conduct.