The British Hyperbaric Association (BHA) is a charitable organisation promoting and supporting the safe and appropriate use of hyperbaric medicine in the British Isles.

The BHA supports the view of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in opposing the unsafe provision of so-called “mild” hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in “mild” facilities. A link to these important statements can be found in our Further info section : “Ethical Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy”

Concerns about patient safety is paramount, particularly the risk of fire when appropriate scrutiny of staff training and equipment function is not in place. Oxygen fueled fires remains the biggest single cause of death in hyperbaric chambers. The recent death of an infant and grandmother in a hyperbaric chamber is a stark reminder of this issue. 

Facilities offering “mild hyperbaric therapy,” provide the public with inappropriate dosing of oxygen under the pretence of providing HBOT and delaying patients seeking proper treatment. The BHA also takes the view that mislabelling, indeed presenting “mild” HBOT as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy raises ethical issues that cannot be supported, particularly if patients are required to pay for such “treatment”.

This statement can be found at: https://www.ukhyperbaric.com/news/