Hyperbaric Medicine Under Pressure: Tragedy, Regulation, and the Future of Safe Practice

In this powerful and deeply informative episode of The Dr. Robert Marx Show, co-hosted by Neil Haley, two of the leading experts in hyperbaric medicine—Dr. John Feldmeier, former president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), and Tom Workman, a pioneer in hyperbaric chamber operations—join Dr. Marx to discuss the recent hyperbaric chamber tragedy in Flint, Michigan and what it means for the future of the field.

The discussion highlights how the tragic incident, involving a young patient and serious operational failures at an unregulated facility, has exposed dangerous gaps in oversight, training, and medical standards within the rapidly growing and often misunderstood field of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

• Failure to follow maintenance protocols on an FDA-approved chamber

• Unqualified personnel and absence of a supervising physician

• Unauthorized treatment for an unapproved indication (ADHD)

• HBOT is a recognized treatment for 15 medical conditions but is being widely misused

• Fly-by-night “wellness centers” and spas are operating off-label, often illegally importing non-compliant equipment from overseas

• Lack of unified federal enforcement: FDA, NFPA, and state fire marshals all have partial authority, but no single agency oversees the field

Dr. Feldmeier outlines the 15 approved medical uses, including:

• Decompression sickness (the bends)

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Radiation injury (e.g., to the jaw, bladder, or rectum)

• Chronic diabetic foot ulcers

• Osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections

• Compromised grafts and flaps

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss and central retinal artery occlusion

These are evidence-based, reimbursable conditions supported by long-standing clinical protocols.

• Tom Workman shares how he helped develop the UHMS Accreditation Program, now in its 25th year with 145 accredited U.S. centers

• Only 10% of hyperbaric facilities are currently accredited

• Workman recently submitted a 426-page report to the FDA exposing the extent of illegal chamber imports and operational violations across 271 off-label centers

• UHMS and leaders like Dr. Feldmeier and Mr. Workman are pushing for:

  • Mandatory accreditation and board certification

  • Enforcement of existing codes (ASME, NFPA, FDA regulations)

  • A potential federal regulatory body similar to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  • Increased education for fire marshals, healthcare administrators, and regulators

• Michigan may become the first state to mandate UHMS accreditation following the Flint incident

Hyperbaric medicine is a powerful and proven medical tool—when practiced safely, by trained professionals, using certified equipment and proper indications. But as wellness centers and profit-seekers expand HBOT into uncharted territory, lives are being put at risk. Stronger oversight, public education, and professional regulation are urgently needed to prevent future tragedies.

• What hyperbaric oxygen therapy really is—and what it isn’t

• Why improper chamber use is dangerous

• How to identify a legitimate HBOT facility

• What regulators, insurers, and physicians are doing to ensure patient safety

• Dr. John Feldmeier – Radiation Oncologist, Hyperbaric Medicine Expert, Former UHMS President

• Tom Workman – Hyperbaric Chamber Operations Pioneer, Former Director of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at UHMS

🧠 Key Topics Covered:🔥 The Flint, Michigan Tragedy⚖️ The Problem with Oversight🩺 What Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Should Be Used For🛠️ Safety, Certification & Accreditation🚨 A Call for Reform🔎 Takeaway Message:🎧 Listen If You Want To Learn:👨‍⚕️ Special Guests: