Medical treatment decision makers

Medical Treatment Decision Makers in Grand Rapids, Michigan

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, you can legally choose someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions yourself. This person is often called a medical treatment decision maker, patient advocate, or healthcare proxy under Michigan law.

Planning ahead is especially important in West Michigan, where sudden winter accidents, strokes, or serious illnesses can happen without warning. Having a decision maker in place helps ensure your wishes are respected at local hospitals such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health facilities.

What Is a Medical Treatment Decision Maker?

A medical treatment decision maker is a person you legally authorize to:

Make healthcare and medical treatment decisions when you cannot
Speak with your doctors and care team
Consent to or refuse tests, procedures, surgeries, and medications
Decide about life-support and end-of-life care, based on your wishes

They cannot make financial or property decisions for you. Those require a separate legal document, such as a durable power of attorney for finances.

In Michigan, this role is usually created through a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or Designation of Patient Advocate.

When Might You Need a Medical Treatment Decision Maker?

You may need a medical treatment decision maker if you become unable to understand information or communicate decisions about your care. In Grand Rapids, this can happen due to:

Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Acquired brain injury from a car crash, fall on ice, or sports injury
Stroke (a common concern in older adults across Michigan)
Severe illness such as advanced cancer or COVID-19 complications
Unconsciousness after an accident (for example, winter driving accidents on I-196, US-131, or icy local roads)
Inability to communicate (e.g., after a severe stroke or while on a ventilator)

You might also want a decision maker if:

You play high-contact sports (football, hockey, etc.) and are concerned about serious injury
You have a chronic condition that may worsen over time
You do high-risk work (construction, manufacturing, outdoor winter work)
You have clear wishes about life support, resuscitation, or long-term care and want to be sure they are followed in any Grand Rapids hospital or clinic

What Does a Medical Treatment Decision Maker Do?

Your medical treatment decision maker must:

Make the same decisions you would make, as closely as possible
Base decisions on your values, beliefs, and preferences
Consider your personal and social wellbeing, not just medical facts
Work with your doctors, nurses, and specialists at facilities like Butterworth, Blodgett, Metro Health, or Trinity Health Grand Rapids
Be reasonably available in emergencies (by phone or in person)

They may be asked to decide about:

Surgery or invasive procedures
Types of medications or treatments
Use of life support systems (ventilators, feeding tubes, dialysis)
Pain management and palliative care
Long-term care settings (rehab, nursing home, hospice)

Their role only begins when you are no longer able to make or communicate your own medical decisions.

Who Can Appoint a Medical Treatment Decision Maker in Michigan?

In Michigan, you can appoint a medical treatment decision maker (patient advocate) if:

You are 18 or older
You are of sound mind (you understand what you are doing and the consequences)

You can do this at any time—ideally before a serious illness or injury occurs.

Choosing the Right Person in Grand Rapids

Your medical treatment decision maker should be:

Someone you trust deeply
Willing and able to speak up for you with doctors and family
Comfortable making difficult decisions under stress
Reasonably available (ideally living in or near the Grand Rapids / Kent County area)
Over 18 and of sound mind

They should not be a witness to your appointment form.

Many people in Grand Rapids choose:

A spouse or partner
An adult child
A close friend
A trusted relative

You can also appoint more than one person, but only one person can act at a time. If your first choice is unavailable, the next person you named can step in.

How to Appoint a Medical Treatment Decision Maker in Michigan

In Michigan, appointing a medical treatment decision maker is usually done through a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Patient Advocate Designation.

Basic Steps

Talk to the person you want to appoint
- Ask if they are willing to act as your medical treatment decision maker.
- Discuss your values, beliefs, and medical preferences.
Complete the appropriate legal form
- Use a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care / Patient Advocate form that meets Michigan law.
- Resources are available through:
  - Michigan Legal Help
  - State Bar of Michigan
  - Local attorneys in Grand Rapids
  - Some hospital social work or case management departments
Sign the form with proper witnesses
- You must sign the form.
- Have it witnessed by two adults who are not your medical treatment decision maker.
- Witnesses must meet Michigan’s legal requirements (for example, they cannot be your healthcare provider or certain relatives in some situations).
Have your decision maker accept the role
- Your chosen person must sign an acceptance section, acknowledging their responsibilities as a patient advocate/medical treatment decision maker.
Store and share the documents
- Keep the original in a safe place.
- Give copies to:
  - Your medical treatment decision maker
  - Your primary care provider (PCP) in Grand Rapids
  - Your local hospital (e.g., Corewell Health Butterworth or Blodgett, Metro Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
- Tell 2–3 trusted people where the original is stored.
- Keep your decision maker’s contact information with you (in your wallet, phone, and medical records).

In an emergency, Grand Rapids hospitals will look for documentation in your medical record and may ask family members about any existing patient advocate designation.

Talking With Your Medical Treatment Decision Maker

Clear communication is essential. In Grand Rapids, where families are often spread across West Michigan, written guidance can prevent conflict and confusion.

Discuss topics such as:

Life support: When would you want or not want machines to keep you alive?
Resuscitation (DNR/DNI): Do you want CPR or intubation if your heart or breathing stops?
Surgery and invasive procedures
Long-term care: Nursing home, assisted living, or staying at home with support
Pain control and comfort care
Religious, spiritual, or cultural beliefs that matter to you

Consider writing your wishes in an Advance Care Directive or similar document so your decision maker and family are clear about your choices.

Local support for advance care planning is available through:

Hospital social workers and palliative care teams at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
The Kent County Health Department
Grand Rapids Public Health programs and community health educators

Advance Care Planning in Grand Rapids

Advance care planning is the process of:

Thinking about your values and goals
Deciding what kinds of medical care you would or would not want
Choosing a medical treatment decision maker
Putting your wishes in writing

This is especially important in Michigan, where:

Winters are harsh, and accidents or sudden illnesses can happen quickly
Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and COPD are common
Hospital care may be needed unexpectedly at any age

You can start this planning conversation with:

Your Grand Rapids primary care doctor
A palliative care or geriatrics specialist
A social worker or case manager at your local hospital

Changing or Revoking Your Medical Treatment Decision Maker

Your preferences and relationships can change over time. In Michigan, you can change or revoke your medical treatment decision maker if you:

Are still of sound mind
Follow the legal steps to revoke or update your documents

To revoke or change:

Complete a new document
- Create a new Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care / Patient Advocate Designation naming a different person.
- Or complete a specific revocation document if available.
Sign with proper witnesses
- Have it witnessed according to Michigan law (usually two qualified adult witnesses).
Inform your previous decision maker
- Take reasonable steps to let them know their role has been revoked.
- Even if you cannot reach them, the revocation can still be valid if properly executed.
Update everyone with copies
- Give updated copies to:
  - Your new medical treatment decision maker
  - Your doctor
  - Your Grand Rapids hospital(s)
  - Close family members or caregivers

Always destroy or clearly mark old copies as “revoked” to avoid confusion.

If Someone Asks You to Be Their Medical Treatment Decision Maker

If a friend or family member in Grand Rapids asks you to be their medical treatment decision maker, you are being placed in a position of significant trust.

You should:

Talk in detail about:
- Life support and resuscitation
- Surgery and high-risk treatments
- Pain management and comfort-focused care
- Long-term care preferences
Consider writing down their wishes
Make sure you:
- Can be reached quickly in an emergency
- Are willing to work with their doctors and care team
- Are prepared to honor their wishes, even if you personally would choose differently

Once they lose the ability to decide, your responsibility is to do your best to make the decisions they would have made, based on what you know of their values and preferences.

Local Grand Rapids & Michigan Resources

If you live in the Grand Rapids or Kent County area, the following resources can help with appointing a medical treatment decision maker and planning ahead:

Your GP / Primary Care Doctor
- Can explain medical options and help you think through your wishes.
Local Hospitals and Health Systems
- Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Butterworth & Blodgett Hospitals
- Trinity Health Grand Rapids
- Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
- Mercy Health locations
  Social workers, care managers, and palliative care teams can assist with forms and planning.
Kent County Health Department
- Offers community health information and may direct you to advance care planning resources.
Grand Rapids Public Health Programs
- Community education on chronic disease, aging, and planning for care.
Michigan Legal Help / Michigan Legal Aid
- Guidance and forms for Michigan-specific patient advocate and power of attorney documents.
Local Elder Law or Estate Planning Attorneys
- Can help you create legally sound documents tailored to Michigan law.

Key Points to Remember

In Michigan, you can legally appoint a medical treatment decision maker (patient advocate) to make healthcare decisions if you cannot.
Anyone over 18 and of sound mind can appoint a medical treatment decision maker.
Your decision maker:
- Must be willing and able to take on the role
- Cannot act as a witness to your form
- Cannot make financial or property decisions for you
Keep the original document safe, and give copies to:
- Your medical treatment decision maker
- Your doctor
- Your local Grand Rapids hospital
You can appoint more than one person, but only one can act at a time.
You can change or revoke your medical treatment decision maker as long as you still have decision-making capacity.

Planning ahead with a medical treatment decision maker and clear written wishes can make a difficult time much easier for your loved ones and your medical team—no matter which Grand Rapids hospital or clinic is providing your care.