Apr 29, 2003 By Steve Ostrosky 3 min read

Two local doctors who are part of a statewide protest to encourage action to combat the state’s medical malpractice crisis will get a national forum to address the issue, as they are slated to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning. Speaking from his home Monday night, Dr. Lawrence Glad, president of the Fayette County Medical Society, said he and one of his partners at Laurel Highlands OB/GYN, Dr. Christine Wilson, will speak on the morning show about the issue of skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance for doctors in Pennsylvania and other states.

“I was contacted by the (Pennsylvania) Medical Society and said the show was looking for groups that are taking a stand to make a difference with this crisis, and our practice has been affected,” he said.

About 10,000 physicians across the state are expected to close their offices this week to draw public attention to the medical malpractice crisis, which has forced many doctors to leave the state.

Glad said the opportunity to go before a national audience shows what a national issue the crisis has become, and how important it is that patients are able to see their doctors.

He said several groups are staging protests this week, including the Politically Active Physicians Association and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Some doctors are already out of the office, while many in Fayette County are not expected to shut their office doors until Wednesday.

Glad said he will be out from Wednesday through next Tuesday, May 6, to protest the crisis that forced him and those in his practice to stop delivering babies because of the rising malpractice insurance rates.

Everyone he encountered on Monday offered positive comments to his protest and many asked who they should contact to encourage legislators to take notice of the problem, he said.

“I had not one negative reaction, from the hospital or my office, or even while I was out shopping later in the day,” Glad said. “Polls show that 76 percent of people realize we need a change and they need to have access to health care.”

Glad said he is not considering himself a celebrity, even though he will make a television appearance Tuesday morning, but is hopeful he and his colleagues will enlighten more people as to the need for caps on non-economic damages, also known as damages for pain and suffering.

“People in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Texas and Mississippi want to be able to see doctors and they want to live in a state that allows physicians to practice medicine and be able to pay for their insurance,” he said. “I’ve been the person who’s been out there trying to get the message out.”

Glad asked people to contact their U.S. senator by calling 1-800-366-0102 and entering their Zip code. That system will connect to people to the office of Sens. Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter to speak out about the issue, he said.

“The time is now,” he said. “It is time to do something.”

Glad said he and his colleagues are expected to appear on the ABC program sometime between 7 and 8 a.m.