The BMJ finds itself in the middle of many spats—academic, clinical, and political. I like to think that’s when the journal is really earning its keep. The BMJ’s rapid responses are its gladiatorial forum; open to all who are willing to engage with the arguments, preferably with references and data, and provided always that they refrain from ad hominem attacks on opponents. Several good clean fights are under way: is the H1N1 vaccine safe in children (www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/340/jun09_3/c2994) and should homoeopathy be provided on the NHS (www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/340/jun30_2/c3513), as well as thoughtful discussions on carotid endarterectomy (www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul21_1/c3879), assisted suicide (www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul20_3/c3943) and Iona Heath’s article on how and when we die (www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/341/jul21_3/c3883). You can watch …