MI - 4 arrested after Thomas, 4, dies in hyperbaric chamber explosion - Troy, 31 Jan 2025

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/27/two-michigan-lawmakers-draft-legislation-to-regulate-hyperbaric-chambers-after-deadly-explosion/82641317007/

An effort to license and regulate hyperbaric oxygen chambers in Michigan appears to be picking up momentum after the death of a 5-year-old boy who was inside a chamber in Troy when it exploded, prompting plans by two lawmakers to introduce legislation this spring.

Thomas Cooper was receiving his 36th treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, a pressurized environment filled with 100% oxygen, at the Oxford Center in Troy on Jan. 31 when the machine ignited into a fireball. Cooper was killed within seconds, according to the Oakland County medical examiner's office.

Michigan does not require any oversight of hyperbaric chambers, which prompted state Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, and Rep. Sharon MacDonell, D-Troy, to start drafting such legislation in a bid to prevent similar tragedies. About a dozen other states have hyperbaric chamber regulations...

 

[borndem]

One word: Prison. IMO, of course.

 

[vls12345]

40 treatments for a 5-year-old??? That seems a lot for almost any treatment at that age, imo.

I would kind of assume patients would pay out of pocket, especially if this is not considered an actual treatment for the diagnosis. MOO.

We have way too many junk "scientists" and alternative treatment charlatans out there these days. And people will continue to lose money, potentially miss out on actual beneficial medical treatments, be injured, and even die because of it. Imo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CEO in Oakland County hyperbaric chamber explosion death remains in jail on $2 million bond

The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion is the only one of the four workers charged to remain in jail.

www.clickondetroit.com

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy was killed in a hyperbaric chamber explosion is the only one of the four workers charged to remain in jail.

...She was issued a $2 million bond and is currently the only one of the four workers charged who hasn’t posted bond...

Good. She should stay right where she is.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

40 treatments for a 5-year-old??? That seems a lot for almost any treatment at that age, imo.

I would kind of assume patients would pay out of pocket, especially if this is not considered an actual treatment for the diagnosis. MOO.

We have way too many junk "scientists" and alternative treatment charlatans out there these days. And people will continue to lose money, potentially miss out on actual beneficial medical treatments, be injured, and even die because of it. Imo.

This "story" about how The Oxford Center came to fruition is lengthy, but there is one paragraph that mentions the cost of hyperbaric treatments. I don't if insurance plans would cover the cost of these expensive treatments, especially if they're not FDA-approved for various conditions.

...The next day I received a call from the hospital. Not only was it going to be private pay, but the cost was $72,000 up front before she could start. The treatments were $2,000 a day, and they knew she would need at least 40. I begged her to let her start, promising to get the money, but the answer was NO....

Tami's Story - The Oxford Center

I will never forget the day the doctors sent my daughter home with no hope. That day should have been the end. But instead, it became the beginning. It was the last day of school in 2006, and I think I was more excited than my children for the summer. As a teacher, I always […]

theoxfordcenter.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Judge won’t reduce bond for CEO charged in Oakland County hyperbaric chamber explosion death. Here’s why.

The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion was in court Friday for a bond hearing. Here's why a judge won't modify it.

www.clickondetroit.com

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion was back in court Friday, and a judge denied the request to modify her bond.

...Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Kessel said that they are concerned that Peterson is a flight risk, because she previously tried to flee officers...

 

[Herat]

Judge won’t reduce bond for CEO charged in Oakland County hyperbaric chamber explosion death. Here’s why.

The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion was in court Friday for a bond hearing. Here's why a judge won't modify it.

www.clickondetroit.com

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion was back in court Friday, and a judge denied the request to modify her bond.

...Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Kessel said that they are concerned that Peterson is a flight risk, because she previously tried to flee officers...

I’d agree that she is very much a flight risk.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

CEO charged in Oakland County hyperbaric chamber explosion death posts $2 million bond

The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion posted bond on Wednesday.

www.clickondetroit.com

The CEO and founder of the Oakland County health care facility where a 5-year-old boy died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion posted bond on Wednesday.

According to court records, Tamela Peterson posted her $2 million bond and was released from jail just after 1 p.m. on April 9, 2025...

 

[borndem]

40 treatments for a 5-year-old??? That seems a lot for almost any treatment at that age, imo.

I would kind of assume patients would pay out of pocket, especially if this is not considered an actual treatment for the diagnosis. MOO.

We have way too many junk "scientists" and alternative treatment charlatans out there these days. And people will continue to lose money, potentially miss out on actual beneficial medical treatments, be injured, and even die because of it. Imo.

You said it. I would think that 40 treatments for a 5-yr-old is way-y-y-y over the top.
Those poor, poor parents. It takes my breath away. The little guy is gone, just gone.
An absolute tragedy.

A thousand lawsuits won't bring their son back, but hopefully the ones doing the treatments and whatever else they had for "healing" or "making someone better" will be shut down and the owners will be shut up in prison.

 

[Herat]

You said it. I would think that 40 treatments for a 5-yr-old is way-y-y-y over the top.
Those poor, poor parents. It takes my breath away. The little guy is gone, just gone.
An absolute tragedy.

A thousand lawsuits won't bring their son back, but hopefully the ones doing the treatments and whatever else they had for "healing" or "making someone better" will be shut down and the owners will be shut up in prison.

I wonder if there is any money left, after she has made bail.

Her dealing in foreign currency and her overseas travel is very bothersome

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Owner of Troy facility where boy died in hyperbaric chamber blast posts $2M bond

Tamela Peterson was ordered to have no contact with the victims’ family, can only leave home for medical, court or legal appointments.

www.detroitnews.com

The owner of a Troy medical facility where a 5-year-old boy died in January in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber explosion has posted bond, officials said.

Tamela Peterson, the owner and founder of the Brighton-based Oxford Center, posted a $2 million bond on Wednesday, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Peterson and three of her employees were arraigned last month on charges stemming from the boy's death. Authorities allege the four disregarded safety protocols and failed to follow the manufacturer's recommended guidelines for the hyperbaric chamber in which he was killed...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I wonder if there is any money left, after she has made bail.

Her dealing in foreign currency and her overseas travel is very bothersome

The Oxford Center in Troy where the incident occurred has been closed and remains a crime scene, but the Brighton facility remains open. Presumably the company is still making lots of money on all of their alternative therapeutic treatments. I hope that safety measures have been put in place and that employees are required to follow them so there aren't any more mishaps like the explosion/fire that took the life of little Thomas.

 

[Herat]

The Oxford Center in Troy where the incident occurred has been closed and remains a crime scene, but the Brighton facility remains open. Presumably the company is still making lots of money on all of their alternative therapeutic treatments. I hope that safety measures have been put in place and that employees are required to follow them so there aren't any more mishaps like the explosion/fire that took the life of little Thomas.

Oh yeah, they might still be doing ozone infusions and colonics and all sorts of sham stuff.

 

[Snoopster]

I just came across this case as I looked into the very recent death of of another person in a hyperbaric chamber.
Physio burned alive in hyperbaric chamber blaze

Walter Foxcroft was found incinerated in a chamber in his own "wellness" facility.
They company promotes HBOT as a wellness therapy to increase energy, amongst other unproven claims.
How are these facilities allowed to operate without being regulated...while making unfounded health claims??
It seems that Mr Foxcroft believed his own marketing as he appeared to be giving himself treatment. (Of course this presumes that he voluntarily went into the chamber that evening.)

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I wonder if these shouldn't just be banned except for in hospitals with very specific (true emergency) and regulated uses. They just seem too dangerous, IMO.

 

[Lilibet]

I just discovered this thread. Such a preventable tragedy! The lax standards around the use of oxygen are literally criminal…polyester pillows, not checking for fabric content, etc.

I use oxygen at night and although I don’t have to be concerned about fabric content, I was told to make sure that the “chapstick” I use on my dry lips does not contain petroleum (most do). It creates a remote, but potential fire hazard since lips and nose are so close together.

 

[Snoopster]

These people at Oxford are horrendous! They are still advertising that they treat (among other things):

ADHD
Mood disorders
Cancer
Dyslexia
Lyme Disease
Heart Attack

etc., etc.

Yes. These people deserve to go to jail.

Conditions - The Oxford Center

 

[teeby]

Why are people confused by the sleep apnea diagnosis? I have a child who was diagnosed with sleep apnea at 4 months old. It's actually not super unusual for little kids to have sleep apnea. It's common in kids with ADHD and it is also a common cause of ADHD-lookalike behaviors, which is one of the reasons they're supposed to consider sleep as a factor before they diagnose ADHD.

Hyperbaric oxygen is absolutely not a treatment for it though. That poor little boy.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

@teeby From what I have seen, doctors are not looking for sleep disorders in kids even when they should be, and ADHD or ADD diagnoses are extremely common in my friend and acquaintance circle. Suggested treatments for the kids seem to be occupational therapy, medications, or sometimes biofeedback training...

 

[teeby]

@teeby From what I have seen, doctors are not looking for sleep disorders in kids even when they should be, and ADHD or ADD diagnoses are extremely common in my friend and acquaintance circle. Suggested treatments for the kids seem to be occupational therapy, medications, or sometimes biofeedback training...

Yes I think they say 10-15% of kids have ADHD. They also strongly recommend parent training, and when they get older, executive function coaching can be helpful.

In my experience it's very easy to get a sleep study for a young child if they have symptoms of sleep apnea (snoring, gasping, etc). Two of my ADHD kids also had sleep apnea and had their adenoids and tonsils out, which helped a lot with their mood and behavior, but they still had ADHD. I was hoping for a quick fix but no such luck.