#846 – Offices Of Dr. Merrick in Kenai, AK

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Transcript:

OFFICES OF DR. MERRICK
416 FRONTAGE RD., STE. 400
KENAI, AK 99611
907-283-5487

TAPE – 846

(Dialing, phone ringing 3x)

CLINIC: Dr. Merrick’s (ph) office.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys did abortions there.

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Do you know how much it cost for that?

CLINIC: It depends on the lab work that has to be done. It averages around 550 to $600. You happen to have Medicaid?

CALLER: No. My boyfriend said he would pay cash for everything.

CLINIC: Okay. Have you had a pap smear in the last year?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: And do you know what your blood type is?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: And have you had a pregnancy test?

CALLER: No. I just haven’t had my period since January 15th, and I’m really scared.

CLINIC: January 15th. Okay. Was that the beginning of your last one?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. It looks like it will be around 600.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And what we do is we have three appointments. The first one’s a consultation visit that lasts about an hour. And we could do that Thursday of this week.

CALLER: All right. Well, the thing is, I’m just really worried. My boyfriend said he would pay cash for everything. The thing is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month. And my friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22, and he said he would take care of everything. Would that be all right, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: No, we don’t have to tell your parents?

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: We would encourage you to tell them.

CALLER: But would anybody have to know about my boyfriend? It’s just my friend said you guys would have to tell on him.

CLINIC: Well, if you tell the doctor his name and his age, then, yes.

CALLER: Oh, really? So if I don’t, then it would be all right.

CLINIC: Well, the more that you — (laughing). That’s not something I can advise you on. Has he called to make an appointment for you or anything yet?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. You don’t have an adult friend that you can tell about this?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Yeah. If you have him involved in it, then it could possibly be where the authorities would have to get involved.

CALLER: Oh, really? What could happen?

CLINIC: I don’t know. You’d have to talk to a lawyer about that.

CALLER: A lawyer?

CLINIC: I believe it would be statutory rape.

CALLER: Rape? I mean, he’s not raping me. We’re in love. We’re going to get married. He said he was going to take care of me forever. He can’t be in trouble.

CLINIC: Statutory is a definition. It has to do with him being an adult and you not being an adult. But I can’t advise you on any of that because of course I’m not a lawyer or anything.

CALLER: Okay. But if I don’t say anything it would be all right you think?

CLINIC: Well, the more you say to me, the more the doctor’s going to know. We can’t give you legal advice. Do you want to talk to him and call back if you want to make an appointment?

CALLER: Well, do you guys do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody if I was getting a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: No, I wouldn’t.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Uh-uh.

CALLER: How much does it cost for a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: If you just want a pregnancy test and not talk to the doctor or anything, it cost $15. I believe it would be free over at Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, they gave me your number to talk to.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, they probably assumed you knew you were pregnant. But if you would like to come by and get a pregnancy test, you can just come by anytime between 11 and 4, and I can get a urine sample from you.

CALLER: If it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?

CLINIC: Then you’d have to see the doctor, uh-huh.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But again, if money’s an issue, it would cost more money to come see us than it would be to go see Planned Parenthood. So if you’re really looking to save money, you could go to Planned Parenthood for birth control pills or you could get them from us.

CALLER: Well, if I got them from you guys, would you have to tell anybody that I was getting birth control?

CLINIC: Well, I’d have to ask him about that. I’m not sure. There’s kind of a difference in your status whether you’re a minor and pregnant and minor and not pregnant. I’m not sure about that.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, I just wish I could talk to mom like I’m talking to you.

CLINIC: Yeah. Well, are you sure you can’t?

CALLER: Yes.

CLINIC: How about an aunt or somebody?

CALLER: It’s just me and my mom and dad here.

CLINIC: Well, the first thing to do is find out if you are pregnant. So you should come by and get a pregnancy test. That would be just $15.

CALLER: Well, let me call my boyfriend and call you back. What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Gina (?).

CALLER: All right. Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#752 – Planned Parenthood in Sitka, AK

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Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
514 LAKE ST.
SITKA, AK 99835-7405
907-747-3883

TAPE – 752

(Dialing, phone ringing 3x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Chris Ann (sp).

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: No, we don’t unfortunately. There is not a provider in town that does those. And you either have to go to Anchorage or Seattle.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: I can give you information on that if you want.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have the number for the one in Anchorage?

CLINIC: Yes, I do. Hang on just a second. Where are you calling from?

CALLER: Douglas.

CLINIC: Douglas. Okay. There is a provider in Juneau who we have been talking with to see if we can get that person to provide an abortion service here, because it would be really nice not to have to travel so darn far.

CALLER: Do you have their number too?

CLINIC: Well, I can’t give that out yet because it’s not a practice yet. I mean, they’re not doing them. And we’re trying to encourage them to provide that service. So Anchorage– the Alaska Women’s Health Clinic is in Anchorage. And their number is 563-7228. And we refer people up there. People really like them. They’re very professional and all of that. If you can time your travel right, it’s a two-day trip. You can take an early jet up, have your appointment the first day, and then the second day the procedure’s done, and then you can come home that night. So it’s a pretty quick thing.

Do you know how far along you are about?

CALLER: Well, no. I just haven’t had my period since January 3rd.

CLINIC: Have you taken a pregnancy test?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: You haven’t? Okay. You’re calling from Douglas?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Yeah, right outside Juneau. You can probably walk in to the Juneau Health Center and get a pregnancy test and confirm whether or not you are pregnant. And then they can kind of give you an approximate date as to how far along you are. If you haven’t had your period since June 3rd, you could certainly be — it depends on —

CALLER: January 3rd.

CLINIC: Sorry. January 3rd. You know, you may not be. Do you feel pregnant? Have you been pregnant before?

CALLER: No. Well, the thing is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month, and my friend said that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is that old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: You’re going to be 14?

CALLER: Yes.

CLINIC: And he’s 22. Actually, he’s way out of bounds.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: Well, I mean in terms of consent and so forth. I mean, legally he’s taking advantage of a minor.

CALLER: What do you mean? I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. He said he was going to take care of me forever.

CLINIC: Okay. I’m glad he said that. I hope he follows through with that. Is he willing to help you financially with this?

CALLER: Yeah. He said he was going to pay for everything.

CLINIC: Okay. You don’t have to tell — we don’t tell parents, at least at Planned Parenthood. So we could give the information. But before you go to Anchorage, you’re going to want to make sure that you are in fact pregnant.

CALLER: So could I come in there for a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: You could come to Sitka if you wanted to. But you can buy a pregnancy test even in the grocery store —

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: — if you don’t want to go to the public health center.

CALLER: Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Uh-huh, yeah. They’re quite accurate. They’re not 100 percent, but they’re 99.9 percent accurate or pretty close up there. And they’re very easy to do. You pee in a little — if you’re pregnant, it measures a certain hormone in your urine. And you have to be pregnant for at least two weeks for your body to start sloughing off that hormone for it to pick it up. And if you haven’t had a period in two months, and if you think you’re pregnant, it would certainly be a wise idea to do it.

If you get a positive read — and pretty much all these tests are the same. There are a bunch of different brands, and it doesn’t matter which one you get. You pee on this stick, and if you’re pregnant — if it’s a positive reading — you’ll get a double pink line. It will give you examples of that.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: So it’s very easy to do. And you can do that in the privacy of your home if you’re concerned about confidentiality kinds of things.

CALLER: Well, would you have to tell anybody about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: No. This is all between you and us and you and whomever.

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

CLINIC: We do here in Sitka, yeah.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Yeah, you bet. Can you hang on just a second?

CALLER: Sure.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Yeah. I would encourage you to go to the Juneau Public Health Center. There is a law in Alaska — and it doesn’t matter that — given your age, you’re entitled to the confidentiality, and they don’t have to tell your parents. They’re not going to bill insurance or anything like that. It’s family planning and birth control. I would encourage you to go there and get a pregnancy test so you get a good read, and you can get some good discussion going. And they will certainly provide you with birth control of your choice.

CALLER: And nobody would have to know that I was on birth control?

CLINIC: Nobody would have to know that you’re on birth control unless you tell them. It’s a law.

CALLER: And you’re sure that nobody has to know about my boyfriend?

CLINIC: I’m sure no one has to know about your boyfriend. That’s your choice.

CALLER: Okay. I just have so many questions.

CLINIC: No, go ahead. Ask away.

CALLER: Well, I don’t of any others to ask right not. But if I thought of anything, could I call and talk to you? What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Chris Anne, and you can certainly call.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Yeah, you bet. I’d be happy to talk with you as much as you want.

CALLER: All right. Thanks.

CLINIC: You bet. Bye bye.

***END***

#668 – Alaska Women’s Health Services in Anchorage, AK

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Transcript:

ALASKA WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES
4115 LAKE OTIS PKWY
ANCHORAGE, AK 99508
907-563-7228

TAPE – 668

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

RECORDING: Thank you for calling Alaska Women’s Health Services. If you know the extension of the person you’re calling, you may dial it now. If you’re calling from a rotary phone, please hold the line. If this is an emergency, hang up and dial 911. Please listen. You may make your selection at anytime during the following menu.

Healthcare providers, press 1. To request a prescription refill, press 2. To make an appointment, press 3. To ask a medical question or — (dial button pressed).

One moment please.

(Phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Appointments. This is Brandy.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.

CLINIC: We do.

CALLER: Well, do you know how much it cost?

CLINIC: It’s $570. And that’s cash or Visa, Master Card, Discover. We wouldn’t take a check for that.

CALLER: Okay. Do you know if you have to be a specific age for that? I’m going to be 14 in March.

CLINIC: No, no, that’s fine. There’s no parental consent in the state of Alaska, so you don’t need — nobody has to know but you.

CALLER: My friend said that you guys would have to tell my parents.

CLINIC: No, uh-uh. That’s not true, hon.

CALLER: Well, she also said that you guys would have to know my boyfriend’s 22.

CLINIC: No, it’s not. That’s fine, unless it was like an issue of rape.

CALLER: No. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Okay, no. It’s your business.

CALLER: The main reason why I’m scared of all this is because I haven’t had my period since January 3rd.

CLINIC: What was the first day of your last period?

CALLER: January 3rd.

CLINIC: Okay. And we only perform them between 7 and 14 weeks. And it looks like you were seven weeks on February 20th. So I can just put you in the next available that I have.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Are you going to pay for the procedure or did you have Medicaid?

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend said that he would pay for everything.

CLINIC: Okay. It’s $570.

CALLER: Do you guys do the pregnancy test there just to make sure?

CLINIC: What we’re going to do is an ultra sound to be sure that you are.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Did you already take a home pregnancy test?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: No, you haven’t taken a pregnancy test. So you’re not even sure that you are pregnant for sure-for sure?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: What you need to do is go ahead and take a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Do I come in there for that?

CLINIC: Right. I can go ahead and book you an appointment, but if you’re not pregnant, then you wouldn’t need to come.

CALLER: Well, if I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control that day?

CLINIC: If you were pregnant?

CALLER: If I wasn’t.

CLINIC: Yes. No. You would need the whole physical examination. Are you from Anchorage?

CALLER: I’m in Willow.

CLINIC: Yeah. You would need the whole physical examination. And when you come in for your termination then we would give you birth control at that time.

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

CLINIC: No, hon. We don’t have to tell anybody. It’s your body.

CALLER: Oh, okay. All right.

CLINIC: So do you want to book an appointment or do you want to think about it? Do you want to get a home pregnancy test and make sure that you are pregnant?

CALLER: Yeah. But I need to call my boyfriend to see when he’d get off work to take me.

CLINIC: Well, you can just get a pregnancy test at Wal-Mart. Just pick up one of those urine pregnancy tests, like the EPT or one of those pregnancy tests. Then just take it at home. And then if it’s positive, go ahead and give me a call back.

CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Brandy. And what was your name?

CALLER: It’s Lisa.

CLINIC: Okay, Lisa. I’ll wait to hear back from you.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks. Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

***END***

#541 – Planned Parenthood in Anchorage, AK

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Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
3401 E. 42ND AVE
ANCHORAGE, AK 99508-5420
907-563-2229

TAPE – 541

(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)

RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Alaska’s Anchorage Clinic. Please make a choice from the following options. If you would like to speak with clinic staff of schedule an appointment, press “1.” (dial sound) (music).

Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Alaska’s Anchorage Clinic. We are currently assisting other callers. Please stay on the line for the next available Planned Parenthood team member to answer your call. (music)

Your call is important to us. Thank you for continuing to hold. You have HOPE? HOPE stands for hormones —

CLINIC: Hello, this is Carrie. Can I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we do not.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know of any place that does?

CLINIC: Yes, I do. Do you have a pen?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. I have a number for Alaska Women’s Health Services.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Their number is 563-7228.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And I also have a number for Dr. Murphy. And her number is 770-5432.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And I also have a number for Dr. Orrin (sp), and his number is 563-3601.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, do you know, I’m just worried about all this because like, well I’m going to be 14 next month.

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: And my friend told me that they would have to tell my parents I’m getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just — like is he old enough to take care of it and they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Let me check real quick, okay? Can you hold on for a second?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Thanks. (music) Hello?

CALLER: Hi.

CLINIC: No, you’re not going to need any type of parental consent at all.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Well, could I ask you — well I’m just worried about all this because I haven’t had my period since like December 21st, and I don’t know what to do. Could I come in there for like a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: You sure can. Can you come in this morning?

CALLER: Well, I’d have to– probably this afternoon.

CLINIC: Have you ever been before?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Well, would you have to tell anybody I was getting a pregnancy test though?

CLINIC: What do you mean, tell anybody?

CALLER: Well, would my parents have to know?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: What time can you come in this afternoon?

CALLER: I’d have to call my boyfriend to see because he would be the only way I could get there. But —

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Why don’t you call your boyfriend and then give me a call back so I can schedule you, okay?

CALLER: Well, is it all right if he brings me and if he comes in?

CLINIC: That’s fine. Yeah, that’s fine.

CALLER: It’s just, we don’t want my parents to know about all this, but he was going to pay for everything. But would he have to sign anything or anything?

CLINIC: No, he won’t have to sign anything at all. So are you on birth control?

CALLER: Well, no. That’s the thing.

CLINIC: Would you like to get started on birth control?

CALLER: Yeah, if I could.

CLINIC: Okay. Yeah. Why don’t you go ahead and call your boyfriend and see when he can bring you in and then give me a call back? Okay? Because we can also get you started on birth control after you have the procedure done.

CALLER: Okay. Well, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant after the pregnancy test, could I get birth control today?

CLINIC: Not today. Tomorrow afternoon you can.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know about me being on birth control?

CLINIC: Just you. You’re the only person that will have to know. Okay, we don’t need your parents’ signature or anything like that.

CALLER: Okay. Well, the thing is, I can’t drive to pick up the birth control. Would my boyfriend be able to get them?

CLINIC: Yeah. He can, but you can also — if you get on birth control pills you can get like a year’s worth of pills at a time.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: And do you have a job or anything? Are you going to school?

CALLER: No. I’m homeschooled.

CLINIC: Okay. So you’re not employed either?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. Then your birth control pills would probably be really cheap like a dollar a month.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So go ahead and call him and find out when you can come in and give me a call back.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: What was your name again?

CLINIC: My name is Carrie. I’ll be the one answering the phone.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Um-hum.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

#542 – Planned Parenthood in Soldotna, AK

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
130 E. REDOUBT AVE
SOLDOTNA, AK 99669-8012
907-262-2622

TAPE – 542

(dialing sounds) (ringing 4X)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. Do you guys do abortions there?

CLINIC: No. Dr. Merritt does abortions in Kenai, but we can refer you over there.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you have that number then?

CLINIC: Yeah. It’s 283-5487.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know — like I’m just really worried, because like, well I’m going to be 14 next month, and my friend told me that they would have to tell my parents I’m getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is that, is he old enough to take care of it and they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: You know, I’d have to ask them, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have to tell anybody.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: They like you to tell your parents because they think that’s better. But they won’t make you.

CALLER: Okay. There’s just no way I could tell my parents at all. I mean, if they found out that me and my boyfriend were having sex, I don’t know what they would do.

CLINIC: Yeah. It’s kind of a sticky thing because you’re pretty young and your boyfriend’s over 21.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: I mean, you know, legally that’s — it’s kind of an illegal thing for a boy who’s over 21 to have sex with a girl —

CALLER: Why is it illegal? I don’t understand.

CLINIC: It’s called statutory rape.

CALLER: But he’s not, he’s not raping me. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. He said he was going to take care of me for the rest of my life.

CLINIC: Yeah. But it’s a legal thing. So —

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: Well, he could get in trouble — not you, but he could. So —

CALLER: Are you going to tell on him?

CLINIC: No, I won’t. But maybe when you go to the doctor you shouldn’t tell them how old your boyfriend is.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: I think that would be better. Just, you know, maybe have a girlfriend come with you and tell them your boyfriend is 16 or something because he could get in a lot of trouble.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? So don’t say anything about that.

CALLER: Well, I’m just really worried about all this because I haven’t had my period since like right before Christmas, and I’m scared. Would I be able to come in there for a pregnancy test though?

CLINIC: Yeah. Why don’t you come in here for a pregnancy test?

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody about my boyfriend if I came in?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, would you have to tell anybody I was getting a pregnancy test though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: No, we don’t have to tell anybody you’re getting a pregnancy test. But why don’t you come on in, and —

CALLER: How late are you guys open today?

CLINIC: Until 5:00.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Can you get in here before that?

CALLER: Well, yeah. I’d have to call my boyfriend to see, but I think so.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: I mean, he’d be the only way I could get there. That’s the only thing.

CLINIC: Yeah. Why don’t you come in and get the pregnancy test so that you know for sure, because there are other reasons why you could have missed a period.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: And then —

CALLER: Well, even if I — like I haven’t had my period since like December 21st. So.

CLINIC: It’s probably — that’s what’s happening. But it could be stress or other things so you need a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Okay. Well, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant could I get birth control?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: I just don’t want to have to worry about all this again.

CLINIC: Right. Absolutely. And if you end up having an abortion then you’ll — they’ll just start you on birth control as soon as it’s over.

CALLER: Oh. Well, if I was on birth control would anyone have to know about that?

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Nobody has to know about that.

CALLER: Okay. Well, the only thing is I can’t drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to pick up the birth control pills?

CLINIC: Yeah. Once you come in here and have your exam, we give you a whole year’s worth and then if you can’t keep them at home he could keep them for you or something.

CALLER: Oh, okay. All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: I just have a lot of questions. And I need to talk to my boyfriend and see if he thinks of anything else. But could I call you if, and talk to you? What was your name?

CLINIC: My name is Joan. I’m the nurse practitioner.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? So yeah, sure, call back if you need to.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. Bye.

CALLER: Bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

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