OFFICES OF DR. MERRICK
416 FRONTAGE RD., STE. 400
KENAI, AK 99611
907-283-5487

TAPE – 846

(Dialing, phone ringing 3x)

CLINIC: Dr. Merrick’s (ph) office.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys did abortions there.

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Do you know how much it cost for that?

CLINIC: It depends on the lab work that has to be done. It averages around 550 to $600. You happen to have Medicaid?

CALLER: No. My boyfriend said he would pay cash for everything.

CLINIC: Okay. Have you had a pap smear in the last year?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: And do you know what your blood type is?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: And have you had a pregnancy test?

CALLER: No. I just haven’t had my period since January 15th, and I’m really scared.

CLINIC: January 15th. Okay. Was that the beginning of your last one?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. It looks like it will be around 600.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And what we do is we have three appointments. The first one’s a consultation visit that lasts about an hour. And we could do that Thursday of this week.

CALLER: All right. Well, the thing is, I’m just really worried. My boyfriend said he would pay cash for everything. The thing is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month. And my friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22, and he said he would take care of everything. Would that be all right, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: No, we don’t have to tell your parents?

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: We would encourage you to tell them.

CALLER: But would anybody have to know about my boyfriend? It’s just my friend said you guys would have to tell on him.

CLINIC: Well, if you tell the doctor his name and his age, then, yes.

CALLER: Oh, really? So if I don’t, then it would be all right.

CLINIC: Well, the more that you — (laughing). That’s not something I can advise you on. Has he called to make an appointment for you or anything yet?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. You don’t have an adult friend that you can tell about this?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Yeah. If you have him involved in it, then it could possibly be where the authorities would have to get involved.

CALLER: Oh, really? What could happen?

CLINIC: I don’t know. You’d have to talk to a lawyer about that.

CALLER: A lawyer?

CLINIC: I believe it would be statutory rape.

CALLER: Rape? I mean, he’s not raping me. We’re in love. We’re going to get married. He said he was going to take care of me forever. He can’t be in trouble.

CLINIC: Statutory is a definition. It has to do with him being an adult and you not being an adult. But I can’t advise you on any of that because of course I’m not a lawyer or anything.

CALLER: Okay. But if I don’t say anything it would be all right you think?

CLINIC: Well, the more you say to me, the more the doctor’s going to know. We can’t give you legal advice. Do you want to talk to him and call back if you want to make an appointment?

CALLER: Well, do you guys do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody if I was getting a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: No, I wouldn’t.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Uh-uh.

CALLER: How much does it cost for a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: If you just want a pregnancy test and not talk to the doctor or anything, it cost $15. I believe it would be free over at Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, they gave me your number to talk to.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, they probably assumed you knew you were pregnant. But if you would like to come by and get a pregnancy test, you can just come by anytime between 11 and 4, and I can get a urine sample from you.

CALLER: If it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?

CLINIC: Then you’d have to see the doctor, uh-huh.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But again, if money’s an issue, it would cost more money to come see us than it would be to go see Planned Parenthood. So if you’re really looking to save money, you could go to Planned Parenthood for birth control pills or you could get them from us.

CALLER: Well, if I got them from you guys, would you have to tell anybody that I was getting birth control?

CLINIC: Well, I’d have to ask him about that. I’m not sure. There’s kind of a difference in your status whether you’re a minor and pregnant and minor and not pregnant. I’m not sure about that.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, I just wish I could talk to mom like I’m talking to you.

CLINIC: Yeah. Well, are you sure you can’t?

CALLER: Yes.

CLINIC: How about an aunt or somebody?

CALLER: It’s just me and my mom and dad here.

CLINIC: Well, the first thing to do is find out if you are pregnant. So you should come by and get a pregnancy test. That would be just $15.

CALLER: Well, let me call my boyfriend and call you back. What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Gina (?).

CALLER: All right. Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

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