Hyperbaric oxygen therapy regulations face scrutiny after a tragic Michigan accident raises safety concerns in wellness clinics. Five-year-old Thomas Cooper died on January 31 when a fire broke out inside a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center, an alternative medicine clinic in Troy, Michigan.
In an effort to stop tragedies like this one from happening again, politicians are pushing for stronger laws governing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What Happened at the Oxford Center?
Thomas was receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sleep apnea and ADHD—conditions not FDA-approved for this type of treatment. The treatment, which entails inhaling pure oxygen in a pressurized container, has been approved by doctors to treat ailments like severe wounds and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Divers who suffer from decompression sickness
Many wellness clinics assert that the therapy can treat more than 100 diseases. Even though the FDA has not approved the majority of them
The fire broke out suddenly, and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel stated Thomas died “within seconds.” Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but four Oxford Center employees have been charged in connection with the incident.
Why Are Regulations Necessary?
Unlike hospitals with strict safety standards, wellness clinics that offer hyperbaric therapy are exempt from mandatory inspection. Federal law does not control the use of hyperbaric chambers outside of traditional healthcare settings, and Michigan exempts facilities that employ them from license requirements.
Experts warn that patients are seriously at risk at the thousands of unaccredited clinics in the US that lack the required safety measures.
Lawmakers Demand Action
Michigan lawmakers Stephanie Chang and Sharon MacDonell are drafting legislation to:
- Require state licensing and inspections for hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinics
- Enforce safety training for all staff operating hyperbaric chambers
- Crack down on false medical claims made by wellness businesses
“People are monetizing the desperation of parents with children who have difficult-to-treat conditions,” said MacDonell. “This needs to stop.”
What’s Next?
With the growing popularity of hyperbaric therapy—fueled by celebrity endorsements—advocates hope that Thomas’ death will push regulators to enforce mandatory safety standards.
“Even a hairstylist needs a license,” said John Peters, director of the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society. “Why don’t hyperbaric clinics?”.
Source: NBC News
