The death of a 5-year-old in a hyperbaric chamber in Michigan has raised concerns about the lack of oversight in the wellness industry. Thomas Cooper died in a fire at the Oxford Center, an alternative medicine clinic in Troy. The use of hyperbaric chambers for treatments not approved by the FDA, such as cancer and autism, has come into question. Michigan law does not require oversight of hyperbaric chambers, leading to concerns about safety in these facilities. The Michigan attorney general has charged staff members at the Oxford Center for the death of Thomas.
The lack of regulation for hyperbaric oxygen therapy outside of traditional health care facilities has raised concerns about safety. Only accredited facilities follow strict standards for equipment maintenance and staff training. This lack of regulation has led to thousands of facilities operating without accreditation. The death of Thomas has prompted two Democratic legislators in Michigan to explore regulatory options and introduce legislation to make hyperbaric chambers safer and prevent businesses from making unproven claims.
While hyperbaric chamber fires are rare, concerns about safety and oversight remain. The FDA regulates certain hyperbaric chambers as medical devices, but does not regulate the practice of medicine. The lack of consistent oversight at the federal, state, and local levels has raised concerns among experts in the field. The hope is that Thomas’ death will lead to mandatory accreditation and increased safety regulations for hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities in the future.
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