Efforts to regulate hyperbaric oxygen chambers in Michigan are underway, following a tragic explosion that claimed the life of a young boy in January. This incident has sparked legislative action to prevent similar occurrences by introducing new safety measures.
Currently, Michigan does not impose regulations on hyperbaric chambers, unlike some other states. In response, State Senator Stephanie Chang of Detroit and State Representative Sharon MacDonell of Troy are collaborating on a bipartisan bill to address this gap. MacDonell highlighted the lack of oversight by stating, “In the state of Michigan we have an absolute wild west when it comes to hyperbaric chambers… there’s nobody checking up to make sure the machines are being maintained properly.”
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating 13 specific conditions, such as severe burns and decompression sickness. However, some centers promote its use for unapproved treatments like cancer and autism, according to an article from Harvard Health.
The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that patients are informed about FDA guidelines and potential risks. Moreover, MacDonell wants to restrict treatment to facilities accredited by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society, which establishes safety standards. She expressed her determination by saying, “If this tragedy ever happened again and I hadn’t tried in my position to do something to prevent this from happening again, I would just feel awful.”
Earlier this month, the owner of the Oxford Center, where the fatal incident occurred, and three employees faced criminal charges for not adhering to safety protocols and manufacturer guidelines.
With bipartisan support anticipated, Chang and MacDonell are in the early stages of drafting the bill and aim for a vote in the fall.
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