PLANNED PARENTHOOD
303 S. WALNUT ST. # 3
SEYMOUR, IN 47274-2369
812-522-8789

TAPE – 283

(Dialing, phone ringing 3x)

CLINIC: Seymour Planned Parenthood. May I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, sweetheart. We don’t do them here in this office. Planned Parenthood provides that as a service in our Indianapolis or our Bloomington office. I can give you either one of those numbers.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Which one would you prefer, Bloom or Indie? They’re both about the same distance from here.

CALLER: I guess I want Indianapolis.

CLINIC: All righty. And that’s called the Women’s Choice. It’s 1-800-352-1901.

CALLER: Okay. I’ll be 14 in March. Is that okay? My friend told me that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my —

CLINIC: They do, sweetie. Under 18 you cannot have that done as a service. In Indiana it’s a state law without parental consent.

CALLER: Oh, well. My boyfriend’s 22. Could he sign it or anything?

CLINIC: No. Your boyfriend has nothing to do with you legally.

CALLER: Oh. Is there any way not to tell my parents?

CLINIC: I don’t think so, sweetheart. You can call and talk to the, but no, I don’t believe so. In the state of Indiana it’s a state law anybody under 18 has to have parental or a legal guardian consent.

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

CLINIC: If you aren’t pregnant, we can provide it as a service, yes.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But state law will not allow a minor under the age of 18 to have a termination without parental consent.

CALLER: Oh, okay. But if I was on birth control — I’m not real sure if I’m pregnant. But if I wasn’t and I was getting birth control from you guys, do you have to tell anybody anything?

CLINIC: No, we do not because we are protected by the state law because we provide sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: We will tell you that — we encourage everybody under 18 — it’s part of our guidelines. We tell encourage you to involve your parents. We’re not here trying to be sneaky. We encourage parental involvement. We tell everybody that we want them to talk to their parents. But I will tell you that we can provide you a service. But if you are 14 or under 14 and sexually active, we have to also give that information to the Child Protective Services. That’s also a state law.

CALLER: So you’d have to tell on me if I was on birth control?

CLINIC: Yes, ma’am. We would have to. If you’re sexually active, and if we have that information, we would have to let Child Protective Services know, yes.

CALLER: Well, what can I do then?

CLINIC: Sweetheart, there’s probably nothing you can do. Talk to an adult. Talk to a parent. If you’re 14 and having sex with somebody — and I wish you hadn’t even told me. He could be arrested for —

CALLER: Arrested?

CLINIC: Absolutely.

CALLER: I don’t — but —

CLINIC: Listen to me. Because the law says, if he is having sex with a minor, and you’re 14 and he’s 22 years old, there’s something not quite right there. I don’t care how old you are, you’re young. You’re considered in the eyes of the law a minor.

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

CLINIC: Well, sweetheart, if you were married, that’s a different story. But you can’t even get married without the consent or the signature of an adult. So you are not considered able to do those things. Okay?

CALLER: Well, what should I do.

CLINIC: I’m going to encourage you to quit having sex with him first of all until you can get this all lined out. Talk to an adult. If you don’t trust talking to your parents, talk to a school counselor. Talk to a minister. Talk to somebody that you’re comfortable with. You need to find out whether or not you’re pregnant, okay? That’s the first thing you need to do, find out whether or not you’re pregnant. If you’re not, then you need to consider a type of birth control if you’re going to be sexually active.

But I’m going to strongly encourage you to not be involved with this person until you get things all lined out legally, because there’s just a lot of ramification. If you continue to have sex with this person, if your parents wanted to, they could press charges. And yes, he could be arrested for statutory rape. And he should know that himself.

CALLER: Okay. But you’re not going to tell on me?

CLINIC: Do what?

CALLER: You’re not going to tell on me?

CLINIC: We don’t even have your name, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So no. I’m giving you good, straight-forward advice. Please protect yourself. Please stop having sex with him until you can get things evaluated, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: I don’t have your name, so I’m not going to tell anybody. But what I’m telling you, if you come here and you want a service from us, we want to help you, and we will do what we can. But I’m going to be up front with you and tell you, at 14 and under if you are sexually active, we have to by law report that to Child Protective Services.

CALLER: So I can’t get birth control from you guys?

CLINIC: I did not say that. I told you that if you came here and you’re sexually active, we have to report it. That’s all I’m telling you. We can provide you —

CALLER: But could I get birth control?

CLINIC: Yes, but you’re going to have to have it reported that you were sexually active. And I can’t tell you what happens then. But yes, you can get birth control through us. Okay?

CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Well, sweetheart, if you’re only 13 now, we have to report all this, absolutely, yes.

CALLER: But when I turn 14, could I come in?

CLINIC: You can come in anytime you want, but we’re still going to have to report it at 14 and under. I’m just telling you the facts. Okay?

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: I’m not trying to keep you from coming in. I’m being right up front with you and very honest.

CALLER: Oh. My friend’s mom is coming. Can I call you back? What was your name?

CLINIC: Oh, my name’s Keena (ph).

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***