Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1289 BROAD ST
AUGUSTA, GA 30901-1193
706-724-5557
TAPE – 214
(dialing sound) (ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. May I help you?
CALLER: Yeah. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: Okay. How much does that cost?
CLINIC: It’s $395 if you want to be awake. If you want to be asleep it’s $490.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is there a specific age for that? Like I’ll be 14 in March.
CLINIC: You’ll be 14 in March?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: You need to have a parental notification. You need to come with your legal guardian or a parent. You cannot do it on your own. You can do it on your own, but we need to have — there’s no special price for that, but if you’re 14 you have to be asleep. We need to put you to sleep.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is there any way not to have my parents there because they can’t —
CLINIC: No. No. We have to — they can’t — they don’t have to be here, but one of your parents has to sign a notification that they know that you’re having the abortion. It cannot be done without their — we don’t need for them to agree to it. But they need to sign a form that they are aware that that’s what you are doing.
CALLER: Well, my boyfriend’s 22. Can he sign it?
CLINIC: No. You have to have a legal guardian.
CALLER: Oh. Well, is there any way not to tell them?
CLINIC: No. No.
CALLER: Because they hate my boyfriend and they can’t find out at all because like they just think he’s too old for me, and if they found out that — if they found out we were having sex they would freak.
CLINIC: Yes, but that’s the law. I’m sorry. I mean, this is the law all over Georgia. If you are 14 you cannot have it done unless a legal guardian — whether it’s an aunt, a brother, sister, that the legal guardian or parent, especially at your age a parent has to be notified and they have to sign a paper.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: They don’t have to agree to it, but they have to sign that they know.
CALLER: Oh. Well, do you have to tell anybody about my boyfriend or anything?
CLINIC: Do you what?
CALLER: Do you guys have to tell anything, anybody about my boyfriend?
CLINIC: We have a confidentiality. We don’t say anything to anybody.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But we need to have one of your parents come and sign a paper.
CALLER: But I can’t do that.
CLINIC: I know. I’m sorry. But this is the law because we cannot break the law.
CALLER: But I mean, if they found out I don’t know what they would do. They would flip out.
CLINIC: I understand, but if you want to come and talk to somebody you’re more than welcome to come down here, but this is the law. We can’t change it.
CALLER: But would you guys have to tell my parents if I’m there?
CLINIC: We don’t have to tell anybody, but if you want to have surgery we cannot do it without your parental notification. It’s not going to happen. We just can’t do it.
CALLER: So there’s like nothing I can do at all?
CLINIC: The only thing you can — any — if you’re planning to have an abortion anywhere you go one of your parents has to sign a form telling that you know that that’s what you’re doing.
CALLER: Well, my —
CLINIC: That’s going to happen anywhere you go. This is the state law.
CALLER: Well, my friend, she said that she could go to a lawyer. Is there anything I could do like with that?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: No?
CLINIC: I don’t know where she got that information, but a lawyer cannot sign instead of a legal guardian of yourself. That’s just the law. This is the Georgia law. It’s a state law, and this is what is required. We cannot do it otherwise.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right?
CALLER: Well, is it all right if I call you back if I had any other questions?
CLINIC: Sure. You can call any time. We close at 1;00.
CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name?
CLINIC: Micky.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right?
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: You’re welcome.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
*** THE END ***