PLANNED PARENTHOOD
2320 HIGHWAY 12 E. # 6
WILLMAR, MN 56201-5811
320-235-9150

TAPE – 303

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood in Wilmer. This is Sarah. Can I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we do not.

CALLER: Do you know of anyplace that does?

CLINIC: And where would be the closest place you could go to?

CALLER: Well, I don’t know.

CLINIC: Are you from around here?

CALLER: Well, sort of. I live in Spicer.

CLINIC: Probably Minneapolis. Minneapolis-St. Paul area would be the closest place to get those services.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you have a phone number for that?

CLINIC: Let me look here. St. Paul, you could call 1-877-890-6225.

CALLER: Okay. I’ll be 14 in March. And my friend said that they would have tell my parents and have them sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he do that?

CLINIC: No. You’re only 14 or you’re 13?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: So you’re 13 right now?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: In order for you to have an abortion, your parents are going to have to sign a consent. And both of them would have to sign it, not just one, in order for you to have an abortion in the state of Minnesota.

CALLER: Well, is there any way not to do that?

CLINIC: Nope, there’s not. It’s the Minnesota law. It’s our wonderful legislature, so there’s no way to get around that one.

CALLER: Well, what can I do?

CLINIC: Well, you’re going to have to tell your parents.

CALLER: But I can’t tell my parents. They would be furious. I don’t know what they would do.

CLINIC: Well, I don’t know. It’s one of those conditions I guess where you’re between a rock and a hard spot, you know? The law says that you have to have your parents’ consent, you have to have them sign if you are going to have an abortion because you’re considered a minor. Either that or you can continue the pregnancy and go that route. But either way you’re going to have to tell them.

CALLER: But what if I wasn’t pregnant? Could I come in there and get a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Do you know that you’re pregnant?

CALLER: Well, not really. I’m just scared because my last period was like the second week in December.

CLINIC: So you’re late for a period.

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Are you having the signs of pregnancy?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. Yeah. I would definitely come in and have a test first.

CALLER: Would you guys have to tell anybody that I was there for that?

CLINIC: No. We’re completely confidential here.

CALLER: Would it be all right if my boyfriend was there with me? That would be the only way I could get there.

CLINIC: Well, yeah. We have males come in here all the time. That’s not a problem.

Are your parents aware that you’re dating an older man?

CALLER: Well, they know him, but they don’t know that we’re having sex.

CLINIC: Okay. But they know that you’re with him —

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: — and they’re okay with that?

CALLER: Yeah. Kind of. Well, they don’t really like him. He’s a nice guy and everything, but they hate him because they think he’s too old for me.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, parents are parents. There is quite an age difference between 22 and 14, or 13 I guess.

CALLER: Well, why do you say that?

CLINIC: Well, I’m just saying that parents have a tendency to do that when there is an age difference, whether it be one year or two years or 20 years.

CALLER: But he’s a sweet guy. He’s really good to me.

CLINIC: Well, as long as he doesn’t abuse you or hurt you or mistreat you, then that’s what’s important.

CALLER: Yeah. He’s going to take care of me and everything.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, why don’t you come in and have the test done first, okay? Take things one thing at a time here. Have the test done first, and then we’ll go from there whether that test comes out positive or negative. And then we’ll take that route when it comes.

CALLER: Well, if it was negative, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: We sure do. And we could fit you in for an exam, including a pap smear. And go ahead and get you some sort of birth control method.

CALLER: Okay. Well, you wouldn’t have to tell anybody that I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: Nope. We would tell nobody. That’s completely confidential here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? It’s a little bit later in the day right now. But probably tomorrow would be a good time.

CALLER: Okay. Well, I’d have to call him and see when he could get off work to take me.

CLINIC: Well, why don’t you find out what time works out good for you guys, and then give us a call back maybe. And we’ll work out a time. To let you know, a walk-in basis only is for pregnancy tests; we don’t schedule appointments for that. But if you want to just schedule an appointment for an exam, then you would need an appointment for that.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: All right. We’ll wait to hear from you then.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay. Thanks.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

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