Family of Metro Detroit boy killed in hyperbaric chamber explosion retains attorney

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The household of a 5-year-old boy killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion at an Oakland County healthcare facility has retained an legal professional.

Thomas Cooper was killed on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, when the hyperbaric chamber he was receiving therapy in on the Oxford Middle in Troy exploded. Cooper’s mom was additionally injured.

Fieger Legislation stated the agency has been retained to signify the household of the kid who was killed, and the kid’s mom. A lawsuit has not been filed.

“That is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with the household as they navigate this immeasurable loss,” stated James Harrington, Managing Accomplice of Fieger Legislation. “We ask that the general public and media respect the household’s privateness at the moment. We’re investigating each facet of this matter and can report our findings in due time. The security of kids ought to all the time be the highest precedence, and this incident raises critical issues about hyperbaric chambers and the oversight and regulation of hyperbaric remedies.”

A GoFundMe has been began to boost cash to assist the household.

—> Hyperbaric chambers: What they’re, what they deal with, dangers, and accreditation

What’s hyperbaric oxygen remedy?

In accordance with the FDA, hyperbaric oxygen remedy (HBOT) is thought for treating scuba and deep-sea divers affected by the fast change in strain round them.

The FDA stated it can be used to deal with different well being issues, together with carbon monoxide poisoning and diabetic foot ulcers. The elevated air strain within the chamber helps the lungs gather extra oxygen, which may get extra oxygen to the tissues that want, and assist the physique heal and battle sure infections.

As of July 2021, the FDA has solely cleared hyperbaric chambers for 13 problems. HBOT is being studied for different circumstances, together with COVID-19, however the FDA has not cleared or licensed using any HBOT machine to deal with something aside from the 13 problems listed.

As of Jan. 31, 2025, the Oxford Middle had greater than 100 circumstances listed on its web site within the hyperbaric oxygen remedy web page as “circumstances handled.”

The FDA recommends those that want therapy get it at an accredited facility saying, “Explosions and fires have occurred in HBOT chambers that haven’t been reviewed by the FDA and are situated at unaccredited services.”

The FDA stated the ability ought to be accredited by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. In accordance with the UHMS map, solely two places in Michigan have been accredited and they’re in Grand Rapids and Niles.

In an announcement to Native 4, the Michigan Division of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) stated that state regulation doesn’t require hyperbaric oxygen services to be licensed or regulated by LARA.

The Oxford Middle opened in 2008. The hearth division stated the ability shall be closed “till additional discover” whereas they proceed to analyze the explosion.

The Oxford Middle launched the next assertion on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025:

“That is an exceptionally troublesome day for all of us.

“As regulation enforcement officers have shared, at our location in Troy, Michigan this morning, a hearth began within a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The kid being handled in that chamber didn’t survive and the kid’s mom was injured.

“The security and wellbeing of the kids we serve is our highest precedence. Nothing like this has occurred in our greater than 15 years of offering this sort of remedy.

“We have no idea why or how this occurred and can take part in all the investigations that now have to happen.”