Pang Ying:Hello, I’m Pang Ying. Welcome to debate 31 of Think Like a Debater. Today’s motion is:Should terminally ill patients be told the truth?I argue yes; Zhan Qingyun argues no.

Today I have invited outside help:Dr. Wang Xing. Followers of Vistopia may have noticed his new program; I listened to it myself. First, welcome, Dr. Wang.

Would you like to introduce yourself, or are you too shy and need us to do it?

Wang Xing:Someone else will surely give a fuller introduction. Let me hear yours first, then I’ll launch a surprise attack.

Pang Ying:A surprise attack already! Dr. Wang has come prepared and learned debate’s tricks before we have even begun.

Dr. Wang has a doctorate in oncology from Peking University and is an attending thoracic surgeon at Shanghai General Hospital, a science writer, and a speaker at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. He has won many science-education awards in Shanghai, advises several medical platforms, and has written popular-science books.

Zhan Qingyun: One is called Lung Talk.

Pang Ying:The Chinese title is a pun on ‘nonsense.’

Wang Xing:Right.

Pang Ying:He also writes Guokr’s patient column. I often read Guokr’s science articles. Welcome, Dr. Wang. Anything to add before your surprise attack?

Wang Xing:No. Hello, everyone, I’m Wang Xing. I’m delighted to join a battle between two women—two debaters I greatly admire, Ms. Pang and Ms. Zhan.

I’m not sure how I should speak today. My main job is to separate the fighters: whichever side is stronger, I’ll help the other. For now I’m on Ms. Pang’s side, but in three minutes I may switch.

Pang Ying:In three minutes he’ll decide Ah Zhan is weaker and go help her.

Zhan Qingyun:Dr. Wang shouldn’t say that. If he joins me, it will sound as if his vote went to Ms. Pang.

Pang Ying:That’s all right; this really is difficult.

Wang Xing:I may later discover that my help hurts a side, so perhaps I should help whichever side is already stronger.

Zhan Qingyun:Impressive.