A young boy tragically perished in a fire while undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ADHD treatment in the presence of his mother.
The incident occurred on January 31 when five-year-old Thomas Cooper was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to address his ADHD and sleep apnea. The therapy session turned tragic as the oxygen chamber exploded, resulting in the boy’s death. Subsequently, the family has initiated legal action seeking £75 million in damages against both the equipment manufacturer and the treatment facility.
During a news conference, attorney general Dana Nessel highlighted the sudden escalation of a small spark into a fatal fire that claimed Thomas’s life within moments. The attorney emphasized the extreme danger of fires in hyperbaric chambers, describing them as almost always leading to fatal outcomes due to the lack of adequate safety measures.
The boy’s mother, Juana “Annie” Cooper, sustained severe burns while attempting to rescue her son. Their legal representation characterized hyperbaric oxygen chambers, like the one involved in the tragedy, as hazardous environments, referring to them as potential death traps waiting to ignite.
The lawyer further underscored the lack of safety features in the equipment, emphasizing the absence of fire suppression systems, automatic fire detection mechanisms, and warnings regarding potential hazards. The incident unfolded at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, where the catastrophic accident took place.
Hyperbaric chambers are specialized devices that administer pure oxygen under pressure to aid in the healing process of patients with specific medical conditions. Although approved by the FDA for various treatments, the chambers’ high oxygen content and pressurized environment make them highly combustible.
The treatment was not sanctioned for the boy’s conditions, according to reports. In addition to the chamber manufacturer, Sechrist Industries, multiple individuals associated with the medical facility were named as defendants in the lawsuit, with some facing charges related to the explosion.
Despite the legal proceedings, the defendants maintain their innocence, emphasizing the accidental nature of the tragedy. The medical facility expressed shock and pledged full cooperation with investigations to determine the cause of the incident.
The family of Thomas Cooper has initiated a fundraising campaign to support their legal battle. For more information or to contribute, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-thomas-cooper-family-support.