Royal Oak, Michigan – A tragic incident involving the death of a 5-year-old boy inside a pressurized oxygen chamber that exploded has led to charges against four individuals in Michigan, as announced by the state’s attorney general on Tuesday.
Thomas Cooper was pronounced dead at the Oxford Center in Troy, where the fatal incident occurred on January 31. His mother, who was also present, sustained injuries while attempting to save her son from the explosion within the hyperbaric chamber.
During a news conference, Attorney General Dana Nessel described how a small spark escalated into a fire that quickly claimed the young boy’s life. Fires within hyperbaric chambers are typically deemed fatal, leading to the development of safety protocols to prevent such incidents.
The founder and chief executive of the center, Tamela Peterson, along with the facility’s manager, Gary Marken, safety manager, Gary Mosteller, and the chamber operator when the explosion happened, Aleta Moffitt, face various charges including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
According to Nessel, the defendants prioritized profit over safety, exposing children to risky and unproven treatments at the facility. Legal representation for some of the accused individuals expressed shock at the charges, emphasizing their clients’ innocence and the tragic nature of the accident.
Hyperbaric therapy involves administering pure oxygen under pressure, creating an environment where oxygen levels are significantly higher than usual. The combustible nature of high oxygen concentrations in pressurized settings was highlighted by Troy Fire Lt. Keith Young in the aftermath of the explosion.
Authorities have raised concerns about the types of disorders for which hyperbaric therapy is marketed, noting that not all conditions treated by the Oxford Center are FDA-approved. The lack of accreditation from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society for the facility also raises questions about safety standards and practices.
In conclusion, Nessel’s office, after consulting experts in the field, determined that the Oxford Center disregarded critical safety measures by operating outdated and potentially hazardous hyperbaric chambers. The tragic loss of young Thomas Cooper underscores the importance of adhering to established safety protocols in medical facilities offering such treatments.