Informed consent means that a person understands their medical condition and the proposed treatment well enough to make a voluntary, informed choice. In Grand Rapids, MI, doctors and other healthcare professionals at hospitals like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health are legally and ethically required to explain treatments clearly before proceeding.

This guide explains how informed consent works for carers in Grand Rapids and how you can support the person you care for in making safe, informed decisions.

In most cases, adults in Grand Rapids make their own decisions about medical care. For consent to be valid, the person must:

  • Receive information about their condition and treatment options
  • Understand the benefits, risks, and possible complications
  • Make a voluntary decision without pressure

As a carer, you can:

  • Help gather information from doctors, nurses, and specialists
  • Support the person to understand their options
  • Help them prepare questions for appointments
  • Attend appointments (with their permission) and take notes

Unpaid vs Paid Carers in Grand Rapids

Carers can be:

  • Unpaid carers – partners, family members, friends, neighbors
  • Paid carers – professional caregivers, home health aides, staff in assisted living or nursing homes

Only unpaid carers may sometimes be allowed to make treatment choices on behalf of the person they care for, and only when they have the proper legal authority (for example, a medical power of attorney or guardianship).

Paid carers are not allowed to make treatment decisions for the people they care for. They can support, explain, and advocate, but they cannot legally consent to treatment unless they also hold a separate legal role (such as court‑appointed guardian).

What Doctors and Healthcare Professionals Must Explain

Healthcare professionals in Grand Rapids—such as those at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, or local clinics—have a duty to explain:

  • The diagnosis (what the condition is)
  • The recommended treatment or procedure
  • Other treatment options, including doing nothing in some cases
  • The benefits and chances of success
  • The risks and common side effects
  • Possible complications
  • What could happen if the person does not have the treatment
  • Specific details such as:
    • Where the treatment will be done (e.g., hospital, outpatient clinic)
    • Who will perform it (e.g., surgeon, specialist, resident)

These explanations are essential so that a person can make an informed decision. This process is known as informed consent.

Once information is provided, the doctor may ask the person (or their legal representative) to sign a consent form. When signed, this form gives the doctor or other healthcare professional legal permission to perform the treatment or procedure.

Every Care Relationship Is Different

In Grand Rapids, care relationships can vary widely—from adult children supporting aging parents in Eastown or Wyoming, to spouses caring for partners with chronic illness, to friends supporting each other through cancer treatment at local cancer centers.

When the Person Can Make Their Own Decisions

If the person you care for can understand information and communicate a choice, they usually make their own treatment decisions.

As a carer, you can support them by:

  • Helping them prepare for appointments (writing down questions, medications, symptoms)
  • Attending appointments at local clinics or hospitals (with their permission)
  • Asking follow‑up questions and asking for plain‑language explanations
  • Discussing information afterward in a calm, private setting

When the Person Cannot Make Their Own Decisions

Some people, for a variety of reasons (such as advanced dementia, brain injury, severe mental illness, or unconsciousness), are unable to make decisions about their own treatment.

In Michigan, this is often managed through:

  • A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC) – a legal document where a person names someone (a “patient advocate”) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become unable to decide.
  • A court‑appointed guardian – if there is no valid power of attorney and the court decides someone needs a legal representative.

If you have been appointed as a patient advocate (healthcare power of attorney) or guardian for the person you care for, you may be able to give consent on their behalf. Your decisions should be based on:

  • What you know the person would have wanted (their values, beliefs, past statements)
  • Any written instructions they left, such as:
    • Advance directives
    • Living will
    • Advance care plan

You can get information about advance care planning from local resources such as:

  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs
  • Patient education departments at local hospitals

In a medical emergency—for example, a car accident on I‑196 in winter or a sudden stroke—doctors and other healthcare professionals at local emergency departments may need to act quickly to save a life or prevent serious harm.

In these situations:

  • Doctors can usually provide emergency treatment without prior consent if the person cannot consent and delay would be dangerous.
  • They are not legally required to consult partners, family, or carers before acting, but it is considered best practice to involve them as soon as possible.
  • Your knowledge of the person’s medical history, medications, allergies, and preferences is extremely valuable to the care team.

As a carer, you may:

  • Have authorization to access the person’s medical records
  • Hold a healthcare power of attorney or guardianship
  • Be the primary support person who helps them get to appointments and follow through with care

Regardless of your specific role, you can always work closely with:

  • The person you care for
  • Their healthcare professionals (GPs, specialists, hospital staff)
  • Other family members and friends

Getting the Information You Need Before Making a Decision

Before making a decision about medical treatment, it is wise to:

  • Get clear, written information about the treatment
  • Give yourself and the person you care for enough time to think about it (when it is not an emergency)

You can ask health professionals at Grand Rapids clinics and hospitals for:

  • Printed brochures or handouts
  • Links to trustworthy websites (for example, major hospital systems, national medical organizations)
  • Information about local support groups and education classes

The information that must be given to a person (or their legal representative) includes:

  • The diagnosis and likely outcome (prognosis)
  • The recommended treatment or procedure
  • Any other treatment options, including not treating
  • The chances of success
  • The risks, side effects, and possible complications
  • What might happen if the person chooses not to have the treatment

If you are making the decision on behalf of another person, consider:

  • What you believe they would want, based on past conversations
  • Any written instructions they left, such as:
    • Advance care plan
    • Living will
    • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care documents

When It’s Hard to Decide

It is common to feel unsure about whether to go ahead with a particular treatment or surgery—especially for serious conditions or major operations. Michigan’s long winters, driving conditions, and chronic disease patterns (such as heart disease and diabetes) can add extra stress to decision‑making about hospital stays and rehab.

Remember:

  • It is okay to ask more questions
  • It is okay to take time (when it is not an emergency)
  • It is okay to seek a second opinion

If you and the person you care for are having trouble making a decision, you could:

  • Make another appointment with the doctor or surgeon to:
    • Discuss your concerns
    • Ask for more details about benefits and risks
  • Ask the doctor or healthcare professional to:
    • Explain the information again in simpler language
    • Use diagrams or written notes
  • Say clearly if either of you does not fully understand something. Ask the doctor to slow down, repeat, or rephrase.
  • Ask for a referral to another specialist in Grand Rapids or West Michigan for a second opinion.
  • Ask for information in another language, or request a professional medical interpreter if English is not your preferred language. All major Grand Rapids hospitals can arrange interpreters.
  • Find a support group and talk to someone who has had the same treatment or procedure—for example:
    • Cancer support groups at local cancer centers
    • Heart disease or stroke support groups
    • Chronic illness support groups through Kent County Health Department or local nonprofits

Learning from Other People’s Experiences

Hearing from others in the Grand Rapids community who have faced similar health decisions can be very helpful. Local resources may include:

  • Hospital‑based support and education programs
  • Condition‑specific groups (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart failure)
  • Online communities run by reputable organizations

These can give you a realistic sense of:

  • What the procedure or treatment is like
  • Recovery time (important in snowy, icy months when mobility is harder)
  • How people felt about their decision afterward

Before a planned treatment, surgery, or procedure, the doctor will usually ask the person (or their legal guardian/patient advocate) to sign a consent form.

Key points:

  • The doctor, not the nurse, must obtain the person’s or guardian’s consent.
  • The consent form will include information about the procedure and the person’s agreement.

A typical consent form usually includes:

  • The person’s:
    • Full name
    • Date of birth
    • Sex
    • Referring doctor
  • Whether an interpreter is needed
  • A plain‑language explanation of:
    • The condition
    • The treatment, surgery, or procedure
  • General risks of anesthesia (if being used) – sometimes in a separate form
  • General risks of surgery
  • Specific risks of the particular procedure, listed by the doctor
  • Whether the doctor has:
    • Explained the risks and possible complications
    • Explained the risks of not having the proposed treatment
  • The person’s agreement that:
    • They understand that the procedure may not work
    • The procedure could make the condition worse in some cases
    • They have had a chance to ask questions
  • The person’s dated signature confirming that they understand and want to have the procedure

The signed consent form is considered a legal document.

In the United States, a person’s signed consent is only valid if:

  • They were adequately warned about possible risks and complications
  • They understood those warnings
  • They were not pressured or misled

Generally, informed consent depends on whether a reasonable person would have agreed to the surgery or treatment if they had known and understood the possible risks and complications.

The final decision is always:

  • The person receiving medical treatment, or
  • Their legally authorized representative (such as a patient advocate under a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a court‑appointed guardian)

They have the legal right to:

  • Refuse consent for any proposed treatment
  • Withdraw consent at any time, even after signing—up until the treatment or procedure has started (and sometimes during, if it is safe to stop)

Key points about consent in Grand Rapids, MI:

  • Consent must be voluntary and based on clear information.
  • You can ask as many questions as you need before agreeing.
  • You can request information in a way you understand—plain language, written materials, diagrams, or interpreter support.
  • You can refuse or delay treatment (except in certain legal situations, such as court‑ordered treatment).
  • You can change your mind and withdraw consent.

If you feel that you or the person you care for did not receive adequate information, or that consent was not truly informed, you can:

  • Talk first with the treating doctor or the hospital’s patient relations or patient advocacy department.
  • Contact the Kent County Health Department or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for guidance.
  • Seek legal advice if needed.

Local Resources for Carers in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you are a carer in Grand Rapids and need help understanding informed consent or making health decisions, consider:

  • Your primary care doctor (GP) – often your first point of contact
  • Your surgeon or specialist – for detailed procedure‑specific questions
  • Hospital patient advocates at:
    • Corewell Health / Spectrum Health hospitals
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health facilities
  • Kent County Health Department – for public health information, advance care planning resources, and community programs
  • Local caregiving organizations and support groups – for emotional support and shared experiences

Key Points for Carers in Grand Rapids

  • Informed consent means that a person understands their condition and its proposed treatment before agreeing.
  • People usually give their own consent to treatment.
  • Only unpaid carers with proper legal authority (such as a healthcare power of attorney or guardianship) can make treatment choices for the person they care for.
  • Paid carers are not allowed to make treatment decisions for the people they care for.
  • Clear explanations of benefits, risks, and alternatives are essential so that a person can make an informed decision.
  • Consent can be withheld or withdrawn at any time before or during treatment (if it is safe to stop).

By understanding informed consent and using the many healthcare resources available in Grand Rapids, you can better support the person you care for in making safe, informed, and respectful decisions about their health.