The Cost of Devaluing the Doctor–Patient Relationship

Every medical intervention carries both potential benefits and risks, and expecting individuals to diagnose and manage their own care based primarily on advertising or consumer marketing is neither realistic nor appropriate. Over time, increasing barriers to care and the erosion of the doctor–patient relationship have diminished the role of medical expertise, leaving many health decisions influenced more by digital media than by clinicians. Women using GLP-1 receptor agonists during years when pregnancy may be a consideration should receive clear, comprehensive guidance about the implications of treatment choices for any indication, including obesity, guidance that goes well beyond abbreviated risk disclosures in promotional messaging. A core PROACTIVE CARE strategy is therefore to create a trusted “well” of high-quality information that helps members access the right clinical expertise, providing a clear “who” rather than just a “how” for addressing medical concerns. This need is reinforced by evidence showing that discontinuation of GLP-1 receptor agonists before or early in pregnancy is associated with greater gestational weight gain and increased risks of adverse outcomes such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and preterm delivery (Maya et al., 2025).

Maya, J., Pant, D., Fu, Y., et al. (2025). Gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcomes after GLP-1 receptor agonist discontinuation. JAMA, 334(24), 2186–2196. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.20951