PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1927 COLUMBUS AVE.
WACO, TX 76701-1032
254-759-5772

TAPE – 439

(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Pam. May I help you?

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

CLINIC: Yes, ma’am.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how much does that cost?

CLINIC: Depends on how far along you are. When was the first day of your last period?

CALLER: December 21st.

CLINIC: Okay. It would be $390.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, do you know — like, well, I’m going to be 14 in March, and my friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about anything?

CLINIC: No, ma’am. One of your parents has to come with you.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Yes, ma’am.

CALLER: Is there any way not to have to tell them?

CLINIC: Not with you’re 14 and he’s 22?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: Did you know that that’s statutory rape in the state of Texas?

CALLER: What do you mean? He’s not raping me. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Okay. Because of you age and because of his age we would have to report that.

CALLER: To who?

CLINIC: To the police.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: Well, he could be arrested.

CALLER: He could be arrested?

CLINIC: Yes, ma’am.

CALLER: Well, he can’t be arrested. I mean, he’s — we’re going to get married, and he’s going to take care of me for the rest of our lives.

CLINIC: Hmm.

CALLER: I mean —

CLINIC: That’s just the law, ma’am.

CALLER: Uh-huh. Well, what can I do then?

CLINIC: I don’t know what you could do. If you come into this clinic, I’m letting you know ahead of time that we have to report that to the police.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: And that he stands the possibility of being arrested. So I did, I do want to let you know that.

CALLER: Well, what —

CLINIC: Plus, we have to send — one of your parents has to bring you for the procedure. Or you could go before a judge and get what’s called a judicial bypass with — but with your situation I don’t know if that would be good for you to do because of his age.

CALLER: Well, would it be better just not to tell anybody about him?

CLINIC: Well, they’re going to ask you some questions.

CALLER: Yeah? So you don’t think that I could get a judicial bypass?

CLINIC: If you explain that to the judge, it’s possible. I really couldn’t tell you. I really wouldn’t know. Hold on a minute.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: (pause) Do you have a good reason for not telling your mother?

CALLER: Well, I can’t tell them at all. I mean, I don’t know what would happen. They’d be furious.

CLINIC: Well, yeah. But I mean, that wouldn’t be a good enough reason for you to tell the judge. You have to be able to convince a judge why are you getting this procedure. You would have to be able to convince him.

CALLER: Well, what should I say?

CLINIC: Girl, I don’t know. In your situation, I don’t know.

CALLER: Well, how could I find out that I was pregnant for sure?

CLINIC: You could take a urine pregnancy test.

CALLER: Oh. Do I come in there for that?

CLINIC: Have you taken the test?

CALLER: No. I’m just really worried because I haven’t had my period for awhile.

CLINIC: Okay. You come here and you take this test, and your test turns out to be positive? We have to report that.

CALLER: But what if it was negative?

CLINIC: If it’s negative, you don’t have anything to worry about. But if your test is positive, then we have to report that.

CALLER: Well, could I get on birth control if it was negative?

CLINIC: Yeah. You can get on birth control.

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody if I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Um-um.

CALLER: And my boyfriend wouldn’t get in trouble?

CLINIC: Have you missed a period?

CALLER: Yeah. Haven’t had it since December 21st.

CLINIC: Ooh. So, and you’ve been having unprotected sex?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, (sighs) it’s possible that you could be pregnant, and if you are pregnant and you come in here, we’d have to report it.

CALLER: Oh. But if I wasn’t, you wouldn’t have to say anything?

CLINIC: Right.

CALLER: Well, so, could I get birth control if I wasn’t pregnant then?

CLINIC: Yes, ma’am, you could get birth control. It’s $28 one-time charge and then the pills are $15 a pack. For your very first would be $43. And then it would be $15 a pack after that. But if you have a missed period, then you’re not going to be able to get birth control from us until you have a period. You’d have to be on your period to start the birth control pills.

CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know about my boyfriend if I was in birth control?

CLINIC: No, ma’am.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: No, long as your test comes out negative.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So you want to come in?

CALLER: Well, I got to talk to my boyfriend to see. But —

CLINIC: Yeah — you, yeah, that’s something you need to discuss with him, because if you come in here and your test is positive, we have to report that.

CALLER: Oh. All right.

CLINIC: Okay? And we definitely could not give you an abortion without one of your parents coming with you unless you got a judicial bypass, and I don’t even know how you would go before a judge with your situation. You know what I’m saying?

CALLER: Yeah. All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. So —

CLINIC: Something to think about.

CALLER: So I’ll just call you back. Okay, thanks.

CLINIC: All right.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
PO BOX 1518
WACO, TX 76703-1518
254-759-5750

TAPE – 459

(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)

RECORDING: Thank you for calling the Planned Parenthood Ross Street Clinic. To hear this menu in English, press 1. (dial sound) To make an appointment at this clinic, press 1. (dial sound) Please hold while I transfer your call.

We help individuals make informed decisions and responsible choices about their fertility and reproductive health, reduce, teen pregnancy, provide counseling for all —

CLINIC: Thank you for calling the Planned Parenthood. This is Alice for Surgi Clinic. Can I help you?

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

CLINIC: We do them at the Columbus clinic.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have that number?

CLINIC: Yes. It’s 759-5772.

CALLER: Okay. Well, I’m just worried because like I’m — well, I’m going to be 14 in March, and my friend told me that they would have to tell my parents that I was getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign whatever it is —

CLINIC: No, no.

CALLER: — and they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: There is a law that if you’re under 17 years old and you’re going to get an abortion, your parents do have to be notified.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: In fact, they have to come with you, your legal guardian or your parent has to come with you to sign an affidavit.

CALLER: Oh. Well, is there any way not to do that, because I don’t know what would happen if they found out. I mean —

CLINIC: The only way you can do that is you have to get ahold of a lawyer, and the judge has to overrule, has to overrule the parents consent and that they will give you a paper to bring to us.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But the only way you could do that is, you have to get ahold of a lawyer.

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: And he takes it before a judge. And the judge would give you a form saying that, you know — in other words, you got to tell the judge why it wouldn’t be a good idea for your parents to know.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: And if the judge gives his okay, then you bring that paper to us.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how much does a lawyer cost?

CLINIC: I have no idea.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know if the judge ever says no?

CLINIC: I don’t know because the people go to different judges. There have been some cases where they bring the letter from the judge.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But it’s just a law now that if you’re under 17 and getting an abortion your parents do have to sign. Your parent or your legal guardian.

CALLER: Okay. Well, I’m just scared because like the whole reason is because like I haven’t had my period since like December 21st, and I don’t know what to do.

CLINIC: So how far along do you think you are?

CALLER: I’m not really sure.

CLINIC: You’re not sure. Okay. Well, they cost $190 if you’re under 13 weeks. And you say your period was started when?

CALLER: December 21st was my last period.

CLINIC: Okay, that’s when it started?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay, December 21st. Let me see how far along you are. December 21st. And this is February the 25th. Okay. You would still be considered first trimester. You really will have to get in there like kind of quick, like next Wednesday. We do abortions only on Wednesday mornings, and you will have to, you know, call over there and make your appointment.

CALLER: Well, could I come in for like a pregnancy test though?

CLINIC: Yeah, you can get a pregnancy test. I mean, if you get just the pregnancy test it’s $10.

CALLER: Oh, okay. My boyfriend said he would pay for anything, for everything. But we were talking about all this, and we decided that we didn’t’ want anyone to know about us. Would you have to say anything to him? Like he would be the only way I could get there.

CLINIC: Do we have to say anything to your boyfriend?

CALLER: Huh? Yeah. Well, he said he would pay, but he’s just worried. He doesn’t want to sign anything.

CLINIC: Okay. No, he doesn’t have to sign anything for the pregnancy test.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: He doesn’t. As far as him — I mean, if you want us to tell him about your pregnancy we can, but if you don’t want us to we don’t have to.

CALLER: Well, he already knows. I mean —

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Okay.

CALLER: He’s taking care of everything. So.

CLINIC: As far as the abortion, you do have to have parents’ consent. Okay? That parent has to be there to sign.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes. We do it here at the Ross Clinic and at the Columbus Clinic.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, would you guys have to tell anybody if I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: No. No.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: No. Not if you’re on birth control.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know, like I’m not old enough to drive, but would my boyfriend be able to pick up the pills if —

CLINIC: No. You have to come in yourself.

CALLER: Oh, really?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? If you decide to go to the Columbus Clinic, the number there is 759-5772.

CALLER: Okay. Well, thank you.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: You’ve been real helpful. What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Alice.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***