The age of consent laws in Wyoming can impact the research and development of new pharmaceuticals. When conducting clinical trials involving testing and interaction with the general public, it is vital that pharmaceutical companies respect the age of consent of the areas they operate in to ensure proper permissions are obtained. It is not uncommon for pharmaceutical companies to spend up to 10 years developing a drug and investing millions into research, only to find that it will not be available in an area due to a miscalculation of consent laws.
Pharmaceutical companies expect their trials to proceed as planned, but can be significantly impacted by the laws and regulations that are present in the states they operate in. Informed consent is vital to clinical trials and is a constant aspect of toxicology studies. In clinical trials involving individuals who are younger than the legal age of consent in Wyoming, it can be easy to misinterpret laws and obtain permissions from individuals who cannot give them.
Managing risk is a top priority. For pharmaceutical companies taking on large-scale studies involving multiple demographics, it is vital that consent laws are observed early. Adverse effects can be extremely costly for companies if measured in terms of wasted product or increased capital investments to meet the requirements of a state.
Misinterpretation of consent laws can result in a study being deemed inappropriate or causing the company conducting it to lose millions of dollars. Knowing the state laws and working closely with a legal expert can prevent serious issues. Best practices include including the legal counsel when implementing methods of recruiting and screening candidates to project and remain in compliance with state laws. If the age of consent is not respected, it can be difficult to recover from the negative publicity that would come from the news that a large corporation took advantage of members of a demography without following law.
States are different, and there are different methods for managing the risks of consent laws even when they vary. When looking toward new areas, pharmaceutical companies should consult with their legal counsel to ensure that they are following proper legal protocol. In Wyoming, the legal age of consent is the age of 18. However, there are situations where a study could probably proceed with someone under the age 18 provided there is documentation that shows their ability to give consent.
In the interest of being responsible, pharmaceutical companies should closely evaluate their needs and the age of consent involved in their studies. The way to balance good pharmaceutical and toxicological testing research with the legal age of consent in Wyoming is to consult the law when planning the study.