PLANNED PARENTHOOD
205 HAZZARD ST
SCOTTSBURG, IN 47170-1023
812-752-5656

TAPE – 287

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood.

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

CLINIC: No, not at this location. We do provide that service at our Bloomington clinic, one in Indianapolis, and one in Maryville.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Are you pregnant?

CALLER: I don’t know.

CLINIC: I recommend the first step if you’ve not had a pregnancy test, if you think you might be pregnant, go ahead and have a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Can I come to you for that?

CLINIC: You can come here. We do free pregnancy testing here. Are you late for your period?

CALLER: Well, my last period was like the second week in December.

CLINIC: Okay. Yeah, we could do a test on you if you’d like.

CALLER: Would you guys have to — my friend told me that since I’m 14 that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign that?

CLINIC: Well, you don’t have to parents’ permission just to have the pregnancy test. But in the state of Indiana you would have to have a parent’s permission to obtain an abortion.

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March. Do they still need to know?

CLINIC: So you’re not 14 yet?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: You’re only 13?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Up until 18, you have to have parents’ permission for abortion in Indiana.

CALLER: But I could come in there for a pregnancy test and they wouldn’t have to know?

CLINIC: A pregnancy test, yeah. And it is illegal for your boyfriend to be having sex with you at your age.

CALLER: What do you mean? I don’t understand. How is that illegal? We’re in love.

CLINIC: There’s a law against a man of 21 having sex with a young girl of 13.

CALLER: But we’re going to get married. What could happen to him?

CLINIC: Well, it would depend on whether your family wanted to press charges. But you guys just need to be aware of that; that that is unlawful for him to have sex with you.

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

CLINIC: Uh-huh. Whatever your feelings may be, that’s just the law, and it’s very black and white.

CALLER: Well, could I still get a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Sure. You can get a pregnancy test. If you think you’re pregnant, you can have a pregnancy test.

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

CLINIC: No. Pregnancy tests you can come and get just on your own.

CALLER: Well, he’d have to drive me. I don’t know how else I would get there.

CLINIC: That’d be okay.

CALLER: Would it be all right if he came in though?

CLINIC: Um-hmm. He can come in. But the nurse would probably want to talk with him some about the situation.

CALLER: Well, would he get in trouble or anything?

CLINIC: She would need to talk to the Welfare Department about it. They would take it from there.

CALLER: They can’t find out. What would happen if they find out?

CLINIC: Well, I’m not sure exactly how they would follow up on that. Would you like to talk to our nurse? Because I know she’s more involved with that than I am.

CALLER: Well, what was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Ellen.

CALLER: Okay. Well, I guess.

CLINIC: Hang on just a second.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: (Talking to someone else) Karen? You got just a sec?

Is it okay with you if I tell her what your situation is so she can come talk to you and let you know what to expect?

CALLER: Yeah.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Hi.

CALLER: Hi.

CLINIC: You are 13?

CALLER: Yeah. Well, I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Okay. It doesn’t matter. If your boyfriend’s that old, then it has to be reported to Child Protective Services.

CALLER: So I couldn’t come in for a pregnancy test or anything?

CLINIC: Yes. If you’re sexually active, and you come in here and tell me you’re sexually active, then I have to report it to the Welfare Department.

CALLER: What if I didn’t tell you?

CLINIC: Then why would you want a pregnancy test?

CALLER: Well, I guess you’re right.

CLINIC: I’d be glad to do it, sweetheart. I’ll be glad to see you, and I’ll be glad to talk to you and whoever. But I just want you to know up front that anybody who is — it’s even against the law for a 17-year-old girl to have sex with an 18-year-old boy. So when that happens, I have to call the Welfare Department. They in turn have to report it to the county prosecutor. But if you are pregnant, then that’s going to be a non-fact because you’re going to be delivering (unclear). And if your boyfriend is 18 or over, I can’t guarantee you that the county prosecutor would not prosecute him because he has in the past.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Well, is there anything I could do at all?

CLINIC: About what?

CALLER: To not get in trouble.

CLINIC: Not have sex. That’s the only thing you can do. Because if you get pregnant at your age, then you’re going to know that you’re pregnant. That’s something you’re not going to be able to hide.

CALLER: Well, is there someplace I could go at all?

CLINIC: For what, sweetie?

CALLER: To get an abortion?

CLINIC: Not without your parents’ permission.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Uh-uh, no. I can’t think of any state that would terminate you at your age without parental consent. There may be some, but I’m not familiar with all the laws in Wyoming or Utah or those kind of places.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: If he took you across state lines, then that’s kidnapping. Then he’s in more trouble than ever —

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: — at your age.

CALLER: Well, what should I do?

CLINIC: Do you think you’re pregnant?

CALLER: Well, my last period was like the second week in December, so I’m just worried about it.

CLINIC: Well, you can buy a pregnancy test at Wal-Mart or CVS or any of those stores and try one of those tests if you want to.

CALLER: Are they usually accurate?

CLINIC: Sometimes, sometimes not. Maybe fairly.

CALLER: But I couldn’t come in there without getting in trouble?

CLINIC: If you come in here, I have to report it to Child Protective Services that you are sexually active.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Now, it’s up to them to pursue it.

CALLER: Do they ever not pursue it?

CLINIC: I’m not aware of a time. The only thing that you can do to absolutely not get in trouble or to not get your boyfriend in trouble is to not have sex.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: All righty, sweetie.

CALLER: But could I come in and get birth control there without you guys telling anybody?

CLINIC: If you tell me you’re sexually active, I have to report.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: All righty, hon.

CALLER: Thanks. Bye.

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