PLANNED PARENTHOOD
63 N. FRANKLIN ST.
WILKES BARRE, PA 18701-1316
570-824-8921

TAPE – 133

(Dialing, phone did not ring)

RECORDING: Hello. This is the Wilkes-Barre office of Planned Parenthood. Please listen carefully to our menu options. Our office and pill supply hours are Monday, 10 to 4:30; Tuesday, 12 to 6:30; Wednesday, 4 to 7; Thursday, 9 to 4; and Friday, 9:30 to 2:30. On Tuesday, February 12th our office and pill supply hours will not start until 2 p.m. If you would like to hear our walk-in Depo-Provera hours, press 2. If you would like information on emergency contraceptives and hours, press 3. If you would like our mailing address along with the directions to our center, press 4. If you have a question or would like an appointment, and it is during our office hours, press 5 (dial button pressed).

(Phone ringing 3x)

CLINIC: Hello, Planned Parenthood.

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t. The closest place we refer to is the Allentown Women’s Center.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Do you want that number?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Hold on.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Okay. It’s 1-800-372-8500.

CALLER: 8500?

CLINIC: Right.

CALLER: My friend told me that you guys have to tell my parents before I can have an abortion. Is that true?

CLINIC: How old are you?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Well, yeah. In Pennsylvania there is a parental consent law. You do need to have a parent or a guardian sign for you.

CALLER: Okay. Well, is there any way not to do that? The problem is I can’t tell my parents at all. My boyfriend’s, he’s 22, but my parents —

CLINIC: Wow (chuckle). My goodness. He could be in a heck of a lot of trouble.

CALLER: Like what?

CLINIC: Pardon?

CALLER: Like what?

CLINIC: Because you’re 14 and he’s that age. I mean, that’s —

CALLER: Well, what do I do?

CLINIC: Well, you can go to New York. But you have to rethink having a boyfriend at that age because he could really —

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

CLINIC: Well, that’s what you think. But think of it long-term. You’re only 14. You have your whole live ahead of you. You don’t certainly need to think about getting married right now. There’s too many opportunities for women nowadays. You certainly don’t want to be married at that young of an age to miss out on all the fun that you’re going to have (laughing). If you get married, there’s no more fun left.

CALLER: Well, what should I do?

CLINIC: But right now that’s not the thing to think about now. If you’re pregnant, you need to terminate the procedure if that’s what you want to do. You can go to New York. I can give you a New York number. It’s Amy Cousins. And you call there and make an appointment. Do you have someone to take you down?

CALLER: Yeah, he would take me. He said he was going to take care of everything.

CLINIC: All right. Well, he should because he really shouldn’t be having sex with you at all, period.

CALLER: But we’re in love.

CLINIC: Pardon?

CALLER: But we’re in —

CLINIC: I really don’t think that that’s love. Hold on just a minute.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Okay. I’m going to give you Amy Cousins’ number. And you can call there. And just tell them the situation, and they’ll make arrangements for you, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Hold on just a minute. How many weeks pregnant are you? When was your last period?

CALLER: It was the first weekend in December.

CLINIC: Okay. Do you have a pencil there?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: 1-800-676-9011.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay. And good luck to you.

CALLER: I wish I could talk to my mom like I can talk to you.

CLINIC: Okay. It’s easier to talk to a stranger, I know. Are you sure you can’t talk to your mom at all?

CALLER: Not at all. They don’t understand. They just don’t understand —

CLINIC: Well, if I was a mom I think I’d be upset too. Because you’re young. You probably don’t know the circumstances, but this boy who’s so much older than you does. And he’s taking advantage of you whether you want to know it or not. He’s just thrilled. He’s —

CALLER: Well, he’s not.

CLINIC: He’s probably bragging to his friends, “I’m going with someone who is 14.” Oh, believe me. He probably is.

CALLER: But he’s a sweetheart.

CLINIC: Well, I’m not saying that. I’m sure he’s very nice. But if he was that nice, he would be a little more mature and find someone closer to his own age. If your parents find out, they could have him thrown right in jail because that’s against the law. So keep that in mind. I don’t want to preach at you. I just want to make sure you have a nice, long life and have all the opportunities available for you because there are.

CALLER: If I came in there for a pregnancy test, do you guys have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Oh, no. Everything is confidential. Oh, so you haven’t — what did you do, an at-home test or you had another test done?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: And it came up positive?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: Well, if you want to, you can make an appointment for the test, and then we can give you all the information, all the referrals and everything. That way you will know more about it then, okay?

CALLER: I have to talk to my boyfriend and see when he can get off work. Is it okay if I call you back and make the appointment?

CLINIC: Sure. You sure can. Do you want the number to Amy Cousins anyway? Just to have it on hand in case something doesn’t work out?

CALLER: Yeah. Wasn’t it the 676 number?

CLINIC: Let me see. Now, wait more second. Oh, yeah, 676-9011. You took that down?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. All right.

CALLER: Well —

CLINIC: Go ahead.

CALLER: Sorry. Do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

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

CLINIC: Everything is completely confidential.

CALLER: Would it be all right if my boyfriend came with me?

CLINIC: Yes, it certainly would be all right. We don’t judge anybody, but I’m just telling you (laughing), confidential here, just try and rethink your situation. And if you want birth control, you can make an appointment. But first of all you need to confirm that pregnancy. Because sometimes the at-home tests can be wrong. So you need to confirm that. So talk to your boyfriend, then call us back and make an appointment.

CALLER: Is it all right if I call you back?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Joan.

CALLER: Joan?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. Bye bye.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

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