Introduction to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The death of a 5-year-old boy in a hyperbaric chamber in Michigan has raised concerns about the lack of regulation in the wellness industry. Thomas Cooper was killed in January when a fire broke out in a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center, an alternative medicine clinic in the Detroit suburb of Troy. The incident has prompted calls for greater oversight of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is a treatment that involves breathing in air that consists of 100% oxygen.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized, tubelike devices that people lie or sit in for treatment. The therapy is used to help the body heal more quickly, but it also creates a highly combustible environment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat over a dozen conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, severe wounds, and decompression sickness in scuba divers. However, many clinics, including the Oxford Center, use hyperbaric chambers to treat conditions that are not approved by the FDA, such as cancer, dyslexia, Alzheimer’s, Lyme disease, and autism.
The Oxford Center’s website lists over 100 conditions that it claims to treat, including many that are not approved by the FDA. Thomas was receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sleep apnea and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which are not among the conditions approved by the FDA for such treatment.
Lack of Regulation
The death of Thomas Cooper has highlighted the lack of regulation in the wellness industry. Michigan law does not require any oversight of the use of hyperbaric chambers, and the state’s health department, occupational safety agency, and Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs all said they do not have oversight of hyperbaric chambers. The FDA regulates certain hyperbaric chambers that meet the agency’s definition of Class II medical devices, but it does not regulate the practice of medicine.
Calls for Greater Oversight
The incident has prompted calls for greater oversight of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Two Democratic legislators in Michigan, state Sen. Stephanie Chang and state Rep. Sharon MacDonell, are working together to explore regulatory options. Chang said she was alarmed by what appeared to be a myriad of problems that led to the fire, including allegedly not having a properly trained technician operating the hyperbaric chamber. MacDonell said it was important not just to make hyperbaric chambers safer but also to stop businesses from making unproven claims about what the therapy can do.
Accreditation Process
The Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society, a nonprofit organization, accredits hospitals and freestanding facilities with hyperbaric chambers in the absence of government regulation. The accreditation process involves on-site inspections and verification that equipment is maintained and specialists are properly trained. However, the process is voluntary, and many facilities are operating hyperbaric chambers without accreditation.
Conclusion
The death of Thomas Cooper has raised concerns about the lack of regulation in the wellness industry. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a safe and effective treatment when used properly, but it can also be deadly when used improperly. It is essential to have greater oversight of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to ensure that facilities are operating safely and making proven claims about the treatment.
FAQs
- What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment that involves breathing in air that consists of 100% oxygen. - What conditions is hyperbaric oxygen therapy approved to treat?
The FDA has cleared hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat over a dozen conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning, severe wounds, and decompression sickness in scuba divers. - Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy regulated?
The FDA regulates certain hyperbaric chambers that meet the agency’s definition of Class II medical devices, but it does not regulate the practice of medicine. - What happened to Thomas Cooper?
Thomas Cooper, a 5-year-old boy, was killed in a hyperbaric chamber fire at the Oxford Center in Michigan. - What is being done to address the lack of regulation?
Two Democratic legislators in Michigan are working together to explore regulatory options, and there are calls for greater oversight of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
