More recently, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has made its mark on the wellness scene. Celebrities and the public are catching on and so are elite athletes. The treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen inside a pressurized, sealed chamber. This chamber, as pictured, resembles a giant baby crib or an adult-sized incubator under a glass dome, similar to Sleeping Beauty’s! Behind its glamorous façade is a string of disastrous events, prompting concern over the product’s safety and effectiveness.
Originally developed during the American Civil War, since its introduction in 1861, HBOT has mostly treated decompression sickness. It has been particularly helpful for employees engaged in tunnel excavation. As it garners more mainstream acceptance, the worries grow about how it will be used for people with more severe conditions like autism. It has come under fire after the deaths of a half-dozen people on the therapy. This has opened the door for legal challenges and calls for tougher regulation.
The Tragic Incidents
These deaths associated with hyperbaric chambers have alarmed many and underscored the risks of this fast-growing therapy. Five-year-old Thomas Cooper died accidentally in a hyperbaric chamber at the Oxford Center located in Troy, Michigan. His family filled out a civil suit. They are asking for $100 million in damages from all parties, including the center and Sechrist Industries, the chamber’s manufacturer.
Walter Foxcroft was a passionate physical therapist, who died by suicide in July. He accidentally became part of a controlled experiment when a fire broke out inside his personal hyperbaric chamber. These events have prompted concern from the medical community about safety practices related to HBOT sites.
“But it just takes a little stress fracture in the side of the chamber that can explode it, or mishandling of oxygen or using the equipment not as recommended by the manufacturer, and that can be a catastrophic accident.” – Koby Grover
The last three have sounded the most urgent alarm. Experts like Dr. Sandra Wainwright with Yale New Haven Health have recently begun to speak out against the sneaky marketing strategies employed by wellness companies purveying HBOT.
Lack of Evidence and Oversight
Advocates hail HBOT as a miracle treatment. A larger group of researchers and physicians are unconvinced that it would work at all for complex conditions such as autism. Dr. Andy Shih, chief science officer at Autism Speaks, emphasizes that there is “basically no evidence to support hyperbaric oxygen therapy as autism therapy.” He warns that the marketing of such treatments exploits the vulnerabilities and hopes of parents seeking help for their children.
In addition, the failure of federal and state regulators to provide strong, consistent oversight of most facilities is a cause for alarm. Tom Workman, a retired air force colonel and certified hyperbaric technician. He’s compiled some pretty damning evidence that shows just how unsafe the industry operates. What he emphasizes is that training and safety is lacking.
“Are you being evaluated by a medical doctor? Is the medical doctor going to be onsite while you’re treated? Is there an appointed safety coordinator that’s going to be onsite while you’re treated?” – Anonymous Source
Dr Owen J O’Neill of the National Health Institute underscores major issues with chambers operating in unregulated environments. In short, he highlights the many problems created by this practice.
“Chamber questionable, training questionable, cell phone in chamber against fire safety, definitely not accredited.” – Dr. Owen J O’Neill
The Celebrity Endorsements and Public Perception
These troubling events and worries from medical officers have not prevented HBOT from earning widespread support. Despite the high-profile promotion from figures like Mayim Bialik, LeBron James, and Joe Rogan, it found itself facing controversy. These endorsements go a long way into perpetuating an ever-looming expectation that hyperbaric therapy can be the panacea to deliver trout health benefits.
Recently Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has endorsed HBOT too, further contributing to the therapy’s prominence in woo-y circles. This endorsement from well-known public figures can sway public perception and encourage individuals to seek out treatments without adequate understanding of potential risks.
These rising numbers are indicative of a “spa mentality,” according to Dr. Wainwright, around this new wave of medical treatment, with a focus on profit over care.
“It’s a spa mentality that is not necessarily geared towards the Hippocratic oath, right? It’s a money maker.” – Dr. Sandra Wainwright
This commercialization poses significant ethical concerns, as the interests of business may come to overshadow the needs and safety of patients. Typical facilities advertise HBOT for autism with pictures of smiling kids lounging in chambers with iPads. Other experts decried that as an irresponsible marketing ploy.
“People keep marketing it. It really preys on the fears and the hopes of parents and caregivers.” – Dr. Andy Shih