PLANNED PARENTHOOD
221 N MAIN ST
ELKHART, IN 46516-3036
574-294-7561

TAPE – 272

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Elkhart Planned Parenthood. May I help you?

CALLER: Yeah. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Okay. Do you know of anybody that might?

CLINIC: There’s a clinic in South Bend and there’s a clinic in Niles. Those are the only two in the are. You want those numbers?

CALLER: Yes, please.

CLINIC: The clinic in Niles is 616-683-6100. And the clinic in South Bend is 219-272-1010.

CALLER: My friend told me that since I’ll be 14 in March that my parents have to sign some stuff —

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: — but my boyfriend’s 22. Could he do that?

CLINIC: No, uh-uh. You have to have parental consent. And no one else, unless they’re a legal guardian, can do that.

CALLER: Is there any way not to tell them at all? Because they can’t find out. I don’t know what would happen.

CLINIC: The only other way in either Michigan or Indiana is to be declared — I can’t think of the world. You have to be emancipated.

CALLER: What does that involve?

CLINIC: Well, that involves going to court and have a judge declare that you are taking care of yourself and that your parents are not legally bound to take care of you.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do I need a lawyer for that?

CLINIC: Well, there’s a lot of paperwork to fill out, and you have to make a certain amount of income.

CALLER: But I’ll be 14 in March. I don’t have a job.

CLINIC: My only concern with this whole conversation is that if you’re 14 and your boyfriend’s 22, there’s enough of an age there that that’s a problem.

CALLER: What kind of problem? What do you mean?

CLINIC: Well, legally that’s against the law. That’s called statutory rape.

CALLER: What? What do you mean?

CLINIC: At 14 you’re not old enough to consent to have sex with a 22-year-old.

CALLER: But we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Okay. That’s besides the point. I’m just mentioning that to you. You may have problems becoming emancipated. I don’t think a lawyer under those circumstances or a judge under those circumstances is going to do that. I would talk to those other two clinics.

CALLER: What could I do then?

CLINIC: Well, you may need to talk to your parents.

CALLER: But I can’t tell my parents.

CLINIC: And why is that?

CALLER: If they found out, they’d be furious. I don’t know what would happen.

CLINIC: At some point there’s no way around that. I mean unfortunately — in either of these states they can’t do anything about it. You have to have a parental consent, and they have to prove that. They have to have picture i.d.s and they have to have birth — it’s not anything that you can work around.

CALLER: Well, could I come in there to get a pregnancy test? I’m just scared because I missed a period, so I don’t know really. But could I come in there and see?

CLINIC: You could set up an appointment. When was your last period?

CALLER: It was like the second week in December.

CLINIC: Okay, hold on.

(Pause)

CLINIC: We have an opening tomorrow at 9:30 or tomorrow afternoon at 2:15.

CALLER: Well, I would have to call my boyfriend to see when he could get off work, but okay.

CLINIC: You’d have to let us know.

CALLER: Well, do you guys have to tell anybody if I’m getting a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: No. We don’t. We don’t need parental consent here. That’s a different ball game.

CALLER: And you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: No. If you — if you’re not pregnant — there’s always a chance that you’re not pregnant — then the smart thing would be to get on a method of birth control if you’re going to be sexually active.

CALLER: You guys wouldn’t have to tell anybody about that?

CLINIC: Not at 14, no.

CALLER: But you wouldn’t tell anybody about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: Not if you’re coming in for a pregnancy test. I’m not going to tell anything about it. We’re not going to give any information to anybody.

CALLER: Okay. Well, could I call you back?

CLINIC: Sure. Let me know.

CALLER: What was your name?

CLINIC: Well, anybody here can schedule your appointment. Just tell them you need to set up an appointment for a pregnancy test. You’d like to come in tomorrow. And it’s a real small clinic, so we’ll get you in, okay?

CALLER: Well, could I come to you? I mean, you’re just nice.

CLINIC: My name is Kim if I’m here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye.

CALLER: Bye.

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