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Editor's note
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Melbourne man Raffaele Di Paolo pleaded guilty last week to charges related to practising as a medical specialist when he wasn’t qualified. The fake gynaecologist had reportedly told a number of women they were pregnant when they weren’t, and injected some with unknown substances that caused awful side-effects.
He’s not the first doctor to fake it. Last year, we learnt about Shyam Acharya who had stolen the identity of an actual doctor and managed to work in a NSW public hospital for more than a decade. He had no medical qualifications whatsoever. Colleagues had doubts about his performance, but none spoke up until after his real identity was revealed. Philippa Martyr, who conducted research into imposters in medicine, gives us a brief history of this phenomenon, and explains how these fraudsters manage to get away with it.
In lighter news, we’re thrilled about the launch of Imagine This, a podcast created by ABC KIDS listen, based on The Conversation’s Curious Kids articles. Each episode brings science to life for little ones, with brilliant sound effects and wonderful storytelling. Just in time for the school holidays, too.
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Sasha Petrova
Deputy Editor: Health + Medicine
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Top story
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Impersonation of doctors is a modern phenomenon that grew out of Western medicine’s drive towards professionalism.
from shutterstock.com
Philippa Martyr, University of Western Australia
It's shocking to read reports of people who worked as doctors for years without having the qualifications to do so, because we trust our medical professionals. So, how do these imposters do it?
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Health + Medicine
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Christopher Blyth, University of Western Australia; Kristine Macartney, University of Sydney
The flu vaccine isn't perfect but it's the best way to protect against these potentially harmful viruses. Most children aged six months to five years are eligible for a free vaccine in 2018.
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Politics + Society
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Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong
The battle between liberals and conservatives continues to split the Liberal Party, but its past heroes would find the ideological division puzzling.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
With the fateful 30th Newspoll finally out there, the government on Monday descended into an orgy of destructive self-indulgence.
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Tony Walker, La Trobe University
History warns us to beware of the fickleness of polls taken mid-term, which tend to be a snapshot rather than a deep reading of the electoral mood.
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Science + Technology
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Fiona Fidler, University of Melbourne; Hannah Fraser, University of Melbourne
Questionable research practices are not fraud, and they're not cause for panic. But they do give us some hints about how we can make science more robust.
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Sabin Zahirovic, University of Sydney; Gilles Brocard, University of Sydney; John Connell, University of Sydney; Romain Beucher, University of Melbourne
Fresh earthquakes and aftershocks hit parts of Papua New Guinea following February's deadly quake. It's Australia's slow push north that's part of PNG's seismic activity.
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Education
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Jennifer Buckingham, Macquarie University; Kevin Wheldall, Macquarie University
Results from a recent trial of England's phonics check in South Australia show teachers liked it and students need it.
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Alfredo Paloyo, University of Wollongong; Silvia Mendolia, University of Wollongong
Weaker students – when placed together with better classmates – can gain from the improved learning environment, and smarter students are unlikely to be negatively affected.
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Commonwealth Games 2018
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Simon Darcy, University of Technology Sydney; Tracey J Dickson, University of Canberra
New Queensland trains and the treatment of athletes on planes show progress on disability discrimination hasn't extended beyond the Games.
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Arts + Culture
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Craig Barker, University of Sydney
Looting of Iraq's national museum began on April 10, 2003. At least half of the artefacts taken remain missing and disturbingly, the illegal trade in stolen antiquities has grown in the years since.
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Business + Economy
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Nicole Gurran, University of Sydney; Catherine Gilbert, University of Sydney
Inclusionary planning schemes can reduce land costs and ensure that affordable homes are well located near jobs and services.
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Jenni Henderson, The Conversation
A Four Corners/Fairfax investigation shows the need for an advisory board to make sure that tax officers are accountable as part of the Taxpayers' charter.
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Cities
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Christian Tietz, UNSW; Christine Steinmetz, UNSW; Dr Nancy Marshall, UNSW; Homa Rahmat, UNSW; Kate Bishop, UNSW; Linda Corkery, UNSW; Miles Park, UNSW; Susan Thompson, UNSW
Researchers are installing sensors to collect data about the use of public spaces. This can improve the management and public amenity of these places, but will users see the technology as intrusive?
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Environment + Energy
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Damian R. Michael, Australian National University; David Lindenmayer, Australian National University
Across large ares of Australia, rocky outcrops are being obliterated to open up more land for farming. But many of these "bush rocks" are refuges for fragile ecosystems.
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Kriti Nagrath, University of Technology Sydney
Government pressure on AGL to keep its Liddell power plant open past 2022 ignores the sensible, cost-effective plan to replace it.
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Blog
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Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation; Molly Glassey, The Conversation
Imagine This, a new podcast by ABC KIDS listen based on The Conversation’s Curious Kids articles, brings science to life for little ones, with brilliant sound effects and wonderful storytelling.
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