Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Family of Boy Killed in Hyperbaric Explosion

Child was killed while being treated in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for ADHD and sleep apnea, which are off-label uses.

The family of a 5-year-old boy who died in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber fire is seeking more than $100 million in damages from the clinic and manufacturer, alleging that corporate greed was placed over the value of human life.

According to NBC News, the complaint was filed in Michigan’s Oakland County Circuit Court on September 22, by James and Juana Cooper, as surviving parents of Thomas Cooper.

The lawsuit names as defendants Sechrist Industries, the manufacturer of the hyperbaric chamber where Thomas died, as well as the Oxford Center, the alternative medicine clinic operating the chamber,  its CEO, three staff members, the Oxford Kids Foundation (a nonprofit linked to the clinic), and Office Ventures Troy I, the owner of the clinic’s property.

Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized machines that deliver pure oxygen to patients, saturating the bloodstream and body tissues. Doctors often rely on this therapy to promote new blood vessel growth and help the body fight certain infections.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared hyperbaric chambers—available in both single-person and multi-person models—for specific uses, including carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, diabetic foot ulcers and certain chronic wounds.

However, the oxygen-rich environment that makes the treatment effective also makes these chambers highly flammable. Fires inside the sealed devices can be devastating, often resulting in severe injuries or death. In recent years, multiple hyperbaric oxygen chamber lawsuits have been filed following fatal fires ignited within the machines.

Thomas Cooper was a 5-year-old boy from Michigan, who was undergoing off-label hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ADHD and sleep apnea at the Oxford Center in Troy, a suburb of Detroit. Neither condition is among the uses approved by the FDA for hyperbaric treatment.

On January 31, a fire broke out inside the sealed chamber while Thomas was receiving treatment. The blaze spread rapidly, fatally injuring the child. His mother, who was present during the session, suffered burns to her arm while trying to pull him from the flames.

According to the lawsuit, the family was never properly warned about the risks of hyperbaric explosions or fires. They allege the device was dangerously designed, lacking any emergency mechanism to quickly remove a patient in the event of a fire.

The complaint accuses both the Oxford Center and Sechrist Industries, the manufacturer of the chamber, of “callous indifference to human life,” claiming the companies prioritized profit over safety. The Coopers are seeking more than $100 million in damages.

In addition to the civil lawsuit, several individuals have been criminally charged in connection with the incident. Oxford Center CEO Tamela Peterson and employees Jeffrey Mostellar, Gary Marken and Aleta Moffitt are facing charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. All four have pleaded not guilty.

FDA Hyperbaric Chamber Safety Recommendations

The FDA recently reminded providers and facilities to ensure they are adhering to hyperbaric chamber manufacturers’ instructions for use, as well as other proper protocols, which include:

• Following strict fire prevention protocols and safety standards for every hyperbaric oxygen chamber
• Ensuring staff members receive thorough training on chamber operation and emergency procedures
• Continuously monitoring patients while they are inside any oxygen therapy unit
• Following all manufacturer and regulatory guidelines for cleaning, scheduled maintenance and safety inspections
• Prohibiting restricted items, such as electrical devices, from being brought into the chamber
• Requiring patients to wear only approved materials like cotton, since fabrics such as wool can generate static electricity

Federal regulators are also reminding patients and providers that a list of all approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chambers can be found in the federal 510(k) registration database, by searching the device serial number.

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