#321 – Northern Michigan Planned Parenthood in Petoskey, MI

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Transcript:

NORTHERN MICHIGAN PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1003 SPRING ST
PETOSKEY, MI 49770-2810
231-347-9692

TAPE – 321

(Dialing, phone ringing 3x)

RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Northern Michigan. Please stay on the line to hear your menu of options.

To reach clinic receptionist Inga Spiegel (ph), press 10. To hear our hours of location, press 1. If you would like birth control pill information, press 2. If you would like information regarding emergency contraception often known as the “Morning After” pill, press 3. If you need to reach director of community services, Martha Lancaster, press 15; education director Laurie O’Neal (sp), press 13; outreach educator Chris Corey (sp), press 14; nurse practitioner Shelly Palston (ph), press 12; clinic assistant Ann Frailey (ph), press 16; developmental assistant Tammy Perrier (ph), press 17. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please hang up and go to your closest emergency — (dial button pressed).

One moment please.

CLINIC: Good afternoon. Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: Hi. I just called, and I was put on hold. I was disconnected.

CLINIC: Yeah. I had to take another call that was lengthy.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: The closest place is Grand Rapids or Saginaw. And the number for Grand Rapids is 800-345-1393. And for Saginaw, it is 800-660-6234.

CALLER: Okay. Well, my friend told me that since I’ll be 14 in March that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend is 22. Is he old enough to take care of that?

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: No? Oh. Well, is there anyway not to have to tell my parents?

CLINIC: You can do a judicial bypass.

CALLER: What is that?

CLINIC: You go to the probate court office and tell them that you want to terminate a pregnancy, that you want a judicial bypass. And they will help you get it. But I’d say with your age and stuff that it would be pretty hard to do. Are you sure you can’t involve your parents?

CALLER: Yeah. They can’t find out at all. They hate my boyfriend. They just think he’s too old for me. They just hate him. So if they found out, I don’t know what would happen.

CLINIC: But if you told them that you were pregnant, they would probably help you get the abortion, wouldn’t they?

CALLER: No. I mean, I don’t know what they would — if they found out that I was pregnant — if they found out that I was having sex, they would be furious. I don’t know what they would do. They can’t find out at all.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, they’re going to ask you all kinds of questions when you go in for the judicial bypass. I mean, just be prepared — they’re going to really, really want you to involve your parents. They really encourage you to do that. Plus too, with it being a case of — I mean, no offense. But legally speaking it’s statutory rape.

CALLER: What is that? I’m not being raped. We’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: I know, but since you’re 14 and he’s 22, it’s considered statutory rape whether you’re consenting or not.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: He can go to jail?

CALLER: He could go to jail? I don’t want him to go to jail. He can’t go to jail.

CLINIC: Then I wouldn’t tell anybody — I mean, I wouldn’t tell anybody how old your boyfriend is then.

CALLER: Oh. All right.

CLINIC: Especially if you go to probate court and want to terminate a pregnancy, there will be like a legal investigation if they find out he’s 22 years old.

CALLER: Well, would it be all right to come in and get a pregnancy test there?

CLINIC: Have you had one yet?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: You haven’t had a pregnancy test yet?

CALLER: No. I’m just scared because my last period was December 14th.

CLINIC: Are you using any birth control?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Condoms? Nothing?

CALLER: Uh-uh.

CLINIC: Oh, man. Are you having breast tenderness?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Any real vague menstrual type cramps?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Nothing like that?

CALLER: Uh-uh.

CLINIC: Are your periods normal? Do you usually have one every month?

CALLER: Usually.

CLINIC: Yeah. If you’re not using any birth control, then, yeah, you’re at high risk for pregnancy.

CALLER: Well, could I come and get a pregnancy test then?

CLINIC: Let’s see. You know what I’m going to have you do, because — and I know this sounds weird. But right now if you were to give me your name, and I were to write it down in the appointment book because of what you’ve already told me, that your boyfriend is 22 and that you’re 14 and you’re having sex with him, I would be obligated to report that.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: But what I’m going to do. I’m going to hang up the phone. Call back tomorrow and just say I need a pregnancy test; this is my name. And it’s going to be $12 for the pregnancy test. And when you come in, don’t tell anybody that. Otherwise, we’re going to have to get on the phone and call.

CALLER: Is it all right if my boyfriend brings me? Because I don’t know how else I would get there.

CLINIC: That’s fine. But I’m just saying —

CALLER: Just don’t tell anybody.

CLINIC: Just don’t tell us.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay? And that way — I mean, that way we don’t have to report it.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: If the pregnancy test was negative, could I get birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: I just don’t want to go through all this again.

CLINIC: I understand.

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

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Nope. Because we don’t require parental consent.

CALLER: Okay. Well, could he come and pick up the pills? Because I don’t drive.

CLINIC: Yeah, that’s fine. So we’ll give you a card that tells what kind of pill you’re on and everything and what your name is, and he would have to bring that in every time to pick your pills up.

CALLER: Would he have to sign anything or anything?

CLINIC: No, nothing like that.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Nothing like that. So call tomorrow. And it looks like — if the pregnancy test is negative, we could go ahead and do the whole exam and everything.

CALLER: All right. How much does that cost?

CLINIC: Well, the pregnancy test is definitely $12. But since you’re under 20 years old, your fees are based on your income.

CALLER: Well, I don’t have a job.

CLINIC: So whenever you come in we’ll tell you what the total normally would have been, and then you leave what you’re able to of that. But anything positive pregnancy related, like a pregnancy test, can’t be part of that program. And so that has to be paid in full.

CALLER: What price is that?

CLINIC: The pregnancy test is 12, and then you leave what you’re able to for the exam.

CALLER: You’ve just been so nice. Could I call you back if I had any other questions. What was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Ann.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Thank you.

CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#294 – Planned Parenthoodd in Battle Creek, MI

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Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOODD
693 CAPITAL AVE SW # 5
BATTLE CREEK, MI 49015-5024
616-964-0885

TAPE – 294

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Good afternoon. Battle Creek Planned Parenthood.

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

CLINIC: Yes, we sure do.

CALLER: Well, how much does that cost?

CLINIC: It’s a dollar donation if you’d like to make that. You can just walk in anytime we’re open for those.

CALLER: Okay. Do you do abortions there?

CLINIC: We don’t do actual abortion surgeries here. We can provide you with information, and we can do the counseling that’s required beforehand. But then surgery would be in Kalamazoo.

CALLER: Well, my friend told me that — I’ll be 14 in March, and she said that you guys have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Can he do whatever they —

CLINIC: What we need to do — in the state of Michigan you either need to have parental consent or you need to go through the courts to get permission. So we certainly encourage you to talk to your parents, but if you don’t feel that you can do that, then we can talk to you about going through the court.

CALLER: Okay. Does anybody have to be told about that?

CLINIC: What we would do is you would go before a judge in the court system, and they would say whether you are mature enough to make a decision without telling your parents. So in that case you would not need to talk to your parents about it.

CALLER: Does the judge ever say no?

CLINIC: It happens occasionally. But certainly we could go through more of what to expect and that sort of stuff, help you prepare for it.

CALLER: How much does all of that cost?

CLINIC: An abortion, if you are less than 14 weeks from your last menstrual period, the total cash cost is $370.

CALLER: Well, if I went and talked to the judge, would I have to pay for a lawyer or anything?

CLINIC: No. We do have people who volunteer to do that, so there wouldn’t be any financial cost for that.

CALLER: Oh, okay. So could I come in there and get a pregnancy test then?

CLINIC: Yep. That would be a good idea. Go ahead and do that, and we can talk to you more about your options when you get in here, okay?

CALLER: Okay. Well, it is okay if my boyfriend brings me in and everything?

CLINIC: Yeah, that’s fine. Okay?

CALLER: Could he ask you guys questions or anything?

CLINIC: Sure, yeah. If you want him to come back while we’re doing the pregnancy test for you, that’s fine.

CALLER: Would you guys have to tell anybody at all?

CLINIC: Everything we do here is confidential. So we would only release information to who you say we can talk to.

CALLER: And I wasn’t pregnant, do you guys do birth control?

CLINIC: Yep, we sure do. And we can get you set up with an appointment for that if that’s what you’re needing.

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

CLINIC: Correct, exactly.

CALLER: Okay. Well, can I talk to him and then call you back? What’s your name?

CLINIC: Yep. I’m Jennifer.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Thank you.

CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#322 – Planned Parenthood in Marquette, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1219 N 3RD ST
MARQUETTE, MI 49855-3009
906-225-5070

TAPE – 322

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: Good afternoon. Planned Parenthood. May I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t do abortions here, but I could give you some information on where to go for that.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. Can I put you on hold real quick, please?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Thank you.

(Long pause)

CLINIC: Thanks for holding.

CALLER: Hi.

CLINIC: Are you interested in going close by or somewhere where it’s cheaper?

CALLER: Well, I guess the cheaper place is better.

CLINIC: Okay. The cheaper place would be Saginaw.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Their phone number is 1-800-660-6234. You can tell them that Planned Parenthood up here in Marquette gave you the telephone number, and they might take a $25 discount off.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Their price is about $280. They do them from 6 to 12 weeks. Do you by any chance know if you’re RH negative or not?

CALLER: No, I don’t know.

CLINIC: You don’t know what your blood type is?

CALLER: No. How do you know how many weeks you are?

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

CALLER: It was December 14th.

CLINIC: Okay. Let me do some calculating here.

(Short pause)

CALLER: Are you there?

CLINIC: I’m here. Okay. Let’s see here. December 14th, and today is February 20th. That puts you at about ten-and-a-half weeks. So if you’re going to do this, you need to call them and get this set up within the next week or week-and-a-half.

CALLER: Well, my friend just told me — I’ll be 14 in March, and she said that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of that?

CLINIC: Nope. Nope, nope, nope.

CALLER: No?

CLINIC: You have to have your parents’ permission to do this or you need to go before a judge and have the judge deem you old enough.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: The only thing is, if you go before a judge, don’t tell him how old your boyfriend is.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: Because he can go right out and have him arrested for statutory rape.

CALLER: He could be arrested?

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: He can’t be arrested. We’re in love. We’re going to get married. I don’t understand.

CLINIC: You’re 14. It doesn’t matter.

CALLER: What can I do?

CLINIC: Don’t tell anybody how old he is for one thing.

CALLER: Oh, all right. Does it cost anything to get the judicial bypass?

CLINIC: Nope. What I do need to do — what you need to do is go through a lawyer.

CALLER: How much does a lawyer cost?

CLINIC: You’ll have to call her. She might do them for free.

CALLER: Oh, really?

CLINIC: Yeah. The phone number is 228-9001. And if you guys are going to get married in June, why don’t you just go talk to your parents?

CALLER: Well, we’re not going to get married in June. I mean, he’s got to go through — like he’s got to finish college and everything, and he’s only — well, he’s like in his second year so he’s got a while still.

CLINIC: All right. But yeah, her name is Priscilla Bernam (ph). And the number is 228-9001, and talk to her. The sooner the better.

CALLER: All right. Well, could I come in there for a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Have you had a pregnancy test yet?

CALLER: No. I’m just scared because I haven’t had my period for a while.

CLINIC: Have you been having any signs of a pregnancy?

CALLER: No. Well, I don’t think so.

CLINIC: All right. Why don’t we have you come in tomorrow. And we’ll run a pregnancy test. And if it’s positive, we’ll go from there.

CALLER: Okay. Well, what time tomorrow?

CLINIC: Just come in when you can.

CALLER: Okay. Is it all right if it’s in the afternoon? Because my boyfriend would have bring me. I don’t have any other way to get there.

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: Okay. Would he have to sign anything? He just doesn’t want anybody to know about him.

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: You guys wouldn’t have to tell anybody that I was there?

CLINIC: No. This is a completely confidential thing. I’m just warning you that if you go before a judge don’t say anything about your boyfriend’s age.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Because with you being under the age of consent, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in love and whether your parents approve or not, he can still be arrested.

CALLER: Okay. If the pregnancy test was negative, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

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

CLINIC: Nope, not a soul. That’s between you, your boyfriend and us.

CALLER: I just wish I could talk to my mom like I can talk to you. Is it all right if I call and ask you other questions if I think of anything?

CLINIC: Sure. Yeah, if you think of anything, just give us a call.

CALLER: What was your name?

CLINIC: If I can’t answer it, I can switch it on to somebody else. My name is Allison.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: But yeah, just give us a call anytime if you want to talk.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye.

***END***

#295 – Planned Parenthood in Benton Harbor, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
PO BOX 1123
BENTON HARBOR, MI 49023-1123
616-926-2042
616-637-8917

TAPE – 295

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: Hi. Do you guys do abortions there?

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Do you know of any place that does?

CLINIC: The Kalamazoo one does.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have that phone number?

CLINIC: It’s 1-800-559-9093.

CALLER: My friend told me that since I’ll be 14 in March, that my parents have to sign some stuff. But can my boyfriend do it? He’s 22.

CLINIC: No. He couldn’t.

CALLER: Oh. Well, is there any way not to tell my parents?

CLINIC: You’d have to call them. I’m not sure how they work that.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: I’m sure they know some way.

CALLER: Well, could I come in to there for a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Yep.

CALLER: Is it okay if my boyfriend brings me? Because I don’t know how else I would get there.

CLINIC: Yeah. That’s not a problem.

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

CLINIC: Nope. We’re open until 4:30 today or 7:30 tomorrow.

CALLER: 7:30 tomorrow probably sounds good. But say that the pregnancy test was negative, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

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

CLINIC: No, everything’s confidential. You couldn’t find anything out.

CALLER: I’ve got to call him. Can I call back? What was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Shana (sp).

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Yep.

CALLER: Thank you.

***END***

#296 – Planned Parenthood in Jackson, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
2009 W. MICHIGAN AVE
JACKSON, MI 49202-4010
517-784-1700

TAPE – 296

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Tee.

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t here. We do in Ann Arbor.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do you have that number?

CLINIC: It’s 1-800-638-0540

CALLER: Okay. Can I ask you a real quick question?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: My friend said since I’ll be 14 in March that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Can he sign it?

CLINIC: He’s what?

CALLER: He’s 22.

CLINIC: Hang on, and I’ll check for you, okay?

CALLER: All right.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Are you there?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: No. Even though he’s 22 it has to be a parent. But there is a judicial bypass that you can do.

CALLER: Okay. What is that?

CLINIC: That is something that — you can come in here and get a counseling appointment, and we can sit and go over it with you and tell you what’s that all about. That could be a confidential consult.

CALLER: Well, do I have to pay for that?

CLINIC: No. That’d be fine. How old are you, 14?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Yeah, you’re still in school, so it’d be on a donation basis. It wouldn’t cost you anything.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: You could just make an appointment to come in and talk to one of us here, and we could tell you all about that.

CALLER: Could my boyfriend come in with me?

CLINIC: Sure, no problem. Have you been here before?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. We set up an appointment for you.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: You want to hang on a second?

CALLER: Huh?

CLINIC: Did you want to hold a minute; we can set it up for you now?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. Hang on.

(Pause)

CLINIC: You can come in anytime we’re open, okay?

CALLER: When is that exactly?

CLINIC: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 to 5; Wednesday, 9 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9 to 1.

CALLER: Okay. Is it okay if I bring my boyfriend in case he has any questions?

CLINIC: Sure. It’s up to you.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

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

CLINIC: No. It’s patient confidentiality. We can’t release any information.

CALLER: Okay. If I ended up not being pregnant, do you guys have birth control there?

CLINIC: Do we what?

CALLER: Do you have birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do. And we could set you up for an appointment for that as well.

CALLER: And you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about birth control either?

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye.

***END***

#297 – Planned Parenthood in Big Rapids, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
208 S MICHIGAN AVE
BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307-1810
231-796-8612

TAPE – 297

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Linda. May I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Do you know of anyone that does?

CLINIC: Your closest is Grand Rapids.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have that phone number?

CLINIC: No, I don’t. It should be in your phone book.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Do you guys do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: You’re late for your period?

CALLER: Huh?

CLINIC: Are you late for your period?

CALLER: Yeah. My last period was like the second week in December.

CLINIC: Okay. Just a little bit late then. Can you come in Wednesday morning at 11?

CALLER: Well, I’d have to call my boyfriend to see. But is there like an age limit or anything for that? I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: No. There’s no age limit.

CALLER: Do my parents have to sign anything? My boyfriend’s 22. Could he sign whatever it is?

CLINIC: No, because you’re only 14. You have to have parental permission to get an abortion, or you have to go for a judicial bypass.

CALLER: What is that?

CLINIC: You would go in front of the judge, and he would make a decision as to whether you are mature enough to make that decision on your own.

CALLER: Does he ever say no or anything?

CLINIC: I couldn’t tell you.

CALLER: Do I need a lawyer for that?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Okay. So I just go and talk to the judge and see what he says?

CLINIC: What you have to do is you have to set up the appointment at the abortion clinic. They’ll send you all the paperwork that you need. Then you set up the judicial bypass. Your boyfriend can’t make that decision.

CALLER: Oh, okay. But for the pregnancy test, could I come in and see you guys —

CLINIC: Yep.

CALLER: — and you guys wouldn’t have to tell anybody about it?

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: Okay. If I ended up not being pregnant, do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

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

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: Would it be all right if my boyfriend brought me and everything?

CLINIC: Yeah, that’s fine.

CALLER: Okay. All right. Thanks.

CLINIC: Now, are you going to call me back when you’re available then?

CALLER: Yeah. I just have to call my boyfriend and see when he can get off work and take me.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Yep. Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#298 – Planned Parenthood in Cedar Springs, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
44 N PARK ST.
CEDAR SPRINGS, MI 49319-8330
616-696-1522

TAPE – 298

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Cedar Springs Office. Kathy speaking.

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Do you know of anyone that does?

CLINIC: I think we have that information. Hold on just a second.

CALLER: All right.

(Pause)

CLINIC: We do have a list. If you want to stop in the office, we can give that information to you. But we don’t normally give that over the phone.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Is it possible to get a pregnancy test there?

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: Okay. And is there like an age limit for that or anything? I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: No, there isn’t. You don’t have to make an appointment or anything for that.

CALLER: Well, do my parents have to sign anything? My boyfriend’s 22. Could he sign whatever it is?

CLINIC: No. We don’t have to have anything signed. You can come in anytime.

CALLER: Is it all right if my boyfriend brings me?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: Okay. If it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, do you guys have birth control there?

CLINIC: Yes. And we would have to reschedule you for an appointment so you can get the exam and all that.

CALLER: But you guys don’t have to tell anybody about me being on birth control either?

CLINIC: No. Everything is confidential.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Do my parents have to say it’s okay for me to have an abortion?

CLINIC: I don’t know the rules on that. You’d have to talk to the people that we give you the phone numbers to.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Thanks.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#316 – Planned Parenthood in White Cloud, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
PO BOX 8305
WHITE CLOUD, MI 49349
231-689-7310

TAPE – 316

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Deb. How may I help you?

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

CLINIC: We do not. We can do pregnancy tests and let people know they’re pregnant and give them information about where they could go. But we don’t provide abortions here.

CALLER: Oh, okay. So if I came in for a pregnancy test do you have to be a specific age for that? I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Well, you can get a pregnancy test no matter what your age is. But in order to get one in Michigan if you’re a teenager, until you’re 18 you need permission from a parent or a guardian.

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just give you permission?

CLINIC: No, it would have to be a parent or a guardian. That’s just for the abortion part. To get a pregnancy test you don’t need permission. But to terminate, yes. You would have to have permission. You can go through a special procedure where you go to the court and you ask a judge to let you make that decision. And it’s done privately, so your parents don’t even need to know. So there is a way you can get an abortion without their knowledge, but it’s a special procedure you have to go through.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: Abortions —

CALLER: Well, like the —

CLINIC: Oh that? No, that’s free to you. Abortions cost between 350 and 400 depending on how far along you are. How late are you for a period right now?

CALLER: Well, my last period was like December 14th.

CLINIC: If you’re more than 12 weeks pregnant, then the price is higher than that though.

CALLER: Okay. Well, my boyfriend said he would pay for it.

CLINIC: So you’re 13 right now?

CALLER: Yeah. I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: In March?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. So do you want to plan to come in for a test?

CALLER: Yeah, but I need to call him to see when he could take me? He was going to take me. Is that okay?

CLINIC: Yeah, sure, no problem. We are open tomorrow, but we’re not open Friday, Saturday or Sunday. If you came in tomorrow that would be fine, and we could do it —

CALLER: Like tomorrow afternoon?

CLINIC: Sure. If you come before 4:00, then we could go ahead and do the test for you tomorrow.

CALLER: Okay. Well, you guys wouldn’t have to tell anybody about anything?

CLINIC: That depends.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: Well, I mean not necessarily about you being pregnant. But when you’re talking to me about you being 13 and him 22, that’s a different issue.

CALLER: Who would you have to tell?

CLINIC: It’s illegal for him to have sex with you because he’s an adult.

CALLER: Why is it illegal? I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: I know. But you’re 13. And so the state says that you can’t make decisions like that when you’re younger than 16. It’s a gray area, and I really can’t tell anything without talking to you directly, person to person kind of thing.

CALLER: Well, would you guys tell if I came in?

CLINIC: It’s a possibility. And I say that very hesitantly because I don’t want you to not come in. I mean, it’s important if you pregnant that you get —

CALLER: Well, I just don’t want to get him in trouble or anything.

CLINIC: I understand that. Do your parents know about your relationship with him?

CALLER: Well, they know him, but they just don’t like him.

CLINIC: Yeah. They don’t know you guys are having sex or anything?

CALLER: No, not at all.

CLINIC: Sure, sure. And I understand that you care a lot about him. The problem is because he’s so much older than you and because in the law’s eyes you’re still considered a child even though you’re agreeing to it. I can’t say that they would prosecute him for that. I’m just saying that it becomes a gray area for us or anywhere you go no matter where you go. If you go for health care anywhere and you tell them, then it’s a possibility that it’s going to raise a lot of red flags for people.

CALLER: Well, how could I get a pregnancy test if he can’t bring me in? I don’t have any way else to get there.

CLINIC: He can bring you in. I mean, that’s not a problem.

CALLER: But would you guys tell on him if he was there?

CLINIC: It doesn’t matter if he’s there or not. If you tell me that you’re having sex with somebody’s who’s 22 and you’re 13, there’s a good possibility we would have to report that.

CALLER: What if I didn’t say anything?

CLINIC: That’s what I’m afraid you’re going to do (laughing), and that’s why I didn’t want to have to tell you that. But I felt like I needed to be honest with you too. It’s important that you get care, and I don’t want to frighten you off from getting care. That’s the primary thing. And like I said, it’s a very gray area. Even though the state says 16, they of course aren’t going to go after a girl who’s 15 if her boyfriend’s 19, that kind of thing. A lot of it has to do with the age difference. So you guys are looking at nine years age difference. He’s an adult person.

CALLER: Well, if I wasn’t pregnant after we do the pregnancy test, do you have birth control there that I could do?

CALLER: We sure do.

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

CLINIC: No. Teenagers do not need consent, even at 13, to get on birth control. No problem.

CALLER: Oh, okay. So you wouldn’t have to report it to anyone?

CLINIC: Can’t guarantee that.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: And I know that as I say that, there’s a good possibility that you’re not going to show up for your pregnancy test, especially when you talk to him because that could frighten him to, if he thought that he was going to be reported. But when you tell me that you’re 13 and he’s 22, it makes my heart hurt. It makes me sad. And he may be the greatest guy in the world.

CALLER: Yeah. I mean, he’s a sweetheart.

CLINIC: But the reality is he’s 22 and you’re 13, and with a nine-year age difference like that, he is an adult having sex with a child.

CALLER: Well, is there anyplace else that I could go?

CLINIC: Sure. I mean, there’s lots of places. But I’m not alone in that. By law, we are required to report instances where children are being exploited I guess would be the best word. It’s a fancy word, but it basically means that someone may be taking advantage of the situation.

CALLER: But nobody’s taking advantage of me. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Well, you can’t get married without permission before you’re 18. And that’s a long way off for you.

CALLER: Oh. I mean, he’s not taking advantage of me.

CLINIC: I understand that. It’s just that legally it’s not seen that way because — because there’s such an age difference, because he’s an adult and you are 13, it’s kind of automatically assumed that he’s taking advantage of you because of that age difference; that he’s using his adult status to kind of take advantage of the situation. So that’s how the court looks at it, how the legal system looks at it. And by law, anywhere you go — no matter whether it’s to your doctor, to your high school counselor, anywhere — if you report that, then that’s a possibility.

CALLER: Should I just not tell anybody?

CLINIC: No, I don’t think so, because I would hate to see you not get health care. It’s a problem. You need to find out whether you’re pregnant. And if you’re not pregnant, you surely need to be on birth control. So it’s kind of like a double-edge thing. And there are no guarantees he would be in trouble. Surely I would imagine they would listen to your side of it.

I mean, that must be something that has crossed his mind. I can’t believe it has not crossed his mind that he could get in trouble for your relationship. Has he never said anything like that before? He’s never asked you to keep your relationship with him quiet or anything like that?

CALLER: Well, I don’t —

CLINIC: I mean, other than from your parents, which makes sense. But he’s never said to you, you can’t tell anybody about us or anything like that?

CALLER: Well, he just doesn’t want anyone to know.

CLINIC: That’s why.

CALLER: But he loves me.

CLINIC: I know he does. I’m sure he cares about you. But he also knows the reality that he could get in trouble for your relationship. And that’s why he’s asking you to keep quiet about it.

CALLER: Is there anything that I could do? I’m just scared. I don’t know what to do.

CLINIC: I know. I know. This is a very difficult time. I just felt like I needed to be up front with you too. I really don’t want to see you run away from getting your health care.

CALLER: Well, I have a cousin that lives in Chicago. Is it different there?

CLINIC: Probably not. I mean, rules from state to state differ somewhat, but basic rules are not going to be different. If at any point your relationship with him comes into the open, there is a possibility that he could get into trouble. And that could be if you tried to get married, if you wanted to just have a baby, if you decided to have an abortion. Any part of that could force that to happen.

Has he told you that he wants you to get birth control or doesn’t want you to get —

CALLER: Yeah, he wants me to. We can’t go through all this again.

CLINIC: And you said December was your last period, huh?

CALLER: Yeah. So we’re like really scared.

CLINIC: Yeah, I don’t blame you. Well, I think you need to have a real serious discussion with him about it. And he’ll probably say, yeah, I’ll know.

CALLER: Well, that’s all we’ve been talking about lately.

CLINIC: I mean about him getting into trouble though. That’s the part I’m talking about, that as we talked, that this is what kind of came out in our conversation. But you need health care too. And that’s very important. And even if you weren’t going to get an abortion and you wanted to just keep this baby yourself, at your age you need health care as soon as you can. So no matter which way you go, you need to be seen fairly quickly.

CALLER: Well, what do you think I should do then?

CLINIC: I’d love you to come in (chuckle). I really want you to come in and get a test.

CALLER: But you would have to tell, right?

CLINIC: I have to say it’s pretty strong that I would, yeah. I feel almost as stuck as you. I can’t positively as stuck as you about this. It would have been very easy for me to lie to you and just tell you, okay, yeah come in, bring him too, one big party. And that wouldn’t have been honest of me to do that. And so I don’t want to do that.

CALLER: Okay. Thank you.

CLINIC: But please, please don’t stay away from health care because of this. Now I know you love him. If he loves you he’s going to want the best for your health. And that’s not going to be hiding. It’s going to be coming forward. And if he loves you and he’s not afraid of that, then he’s going to step up to the plate and take responsibility, one way or the other. He’s going to take responsibility for the relationship, he’s going to take responsibility if you’re pregnant.

CALLER: Well, could he go to jail and not be there ever again?

CLINIC: No, it’s not something you go away for life for or anything like that. I don’t know what kind of trouble he could get into. Because surely, the court system takes into account the fact that he did not force you. It’s not like it was a rape. Legally they use the word “rape.” Sometimes they call it statutory rape because you’re having sex before you’re old enough to consent to it. But they would definitely take that into consideration and just look at the case. I can’t make you any promises one way or the other.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? But I really would like to have you come in.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So talk to him. Please come in. I will not be here tomorrow, but there’s another woman, Melissa, who will know about this, the basic information about you needing a pregnancy test here. And she’s a wonderful person to talk to, so you’ll find her very helpful too.

CALLER: Okay. But you won’t tell her about my boyfriend or anything?

CLINIC: I can’t say that.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Give us a call and come in please.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All righty. Bye bye.

CLINIC: Bye.

***END***

#289 – Planned Parenthood in Detroit, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
39 E ADAMS AVE
DETROIT, MI 48226-1602
313-961-7370

TAPE – 289

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CALLER: Hello. Planned Parenthood. Kim speaking. May I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Do you know of anyplace that does?

CLINIC: I can give you the number to Scotsdale.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: The number is 313-538-2020.

CALLER: Okay. Well, can I ask you a quick question?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: My friend told me that since I’ll be 14 in March that you guys have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Can he just take care of whatever they’re doing?

CLINIC: No, there has to be parental consent.

CALLER: Really? There’s no way — there’s just no way that they can find out at all. Is there any way not to tell them?

CLINIC: Well, you can do a judicial bypass.

CALLER: What is that?

CLINIC: I’ll let Doll (ph) explain it to you. Hold one second, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

(Long pause)

CLINIC: This is Doll. May I help you?

CALLER: Hi. I was wondering if you guys did abortions.

CLINIC: No, we don’t do that right now.

CALLER: I was talking to someone else, but she said that — I’ll be 14 in March, and I was asking if there was anything that I could do so that my parents don’t have to find out.

CLINIC: Okay. It’s a judicial bypass. I’m going to give you some information. What county do you live in?

CALLER: I live in Warren.

CLINIC: You live in Warren? Now, Warren has a different system.

CALLER: My boyfriend’s 22. Could he take care of anything?

CLINIC: No, basically you can do it yourself. Let me find something for you.

Warren? Is that Macomb County. That’s Macomb County, right?

CALLER: I’m not really sure which county it is. We just moved here.

CLINIC: I’ll give you this information. You got a pen?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: You need to call directly to Macomb County, and they will assign someone to you from the list they have. They do it different.

CALLER: Does that cost anything?

CLINIC: No, uh-uh.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: The number is 810-464-6476. Judge Norwaski (ph)?

CALLER: Norwaski?

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: How do you spell that?

CLINIC: N-a-w-i-c-k-i. He approves the list for attorneys who can take judicial bypass cases, okay? There’s approximately about 15 attorneys. And if any attorney comes in that’s not on the list, they will not get paid. So it must be on his list. Everybody else, we can give them any attorney. But McComb County has to have certain ones on the list. So you call and get a person on the list, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All right. Did you get your clinical test yet?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: You need to get a clinical test first.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: Nothing. Come to a Planned Parenthood, and you can get a pregnancy test for free. There’s one close to you. There’s one in Warren on DeQuinter (ph). It’s 696. I can give you the phone number.

CALLER: I just don’t want anyone else to know.

CLINIC: Nobody else to know? Oh, this is confidential. Nobody won’t know unless you tell them.

CALLER: Well, is it okay if my boyfriend brings me?

CLINIC: Oh, yeah. That’s no problem. We have one close to you though. I’m going to give you the phone number. It’s 810 — or if you feel more comfortable to come here with me, that’s fine.

CALLER: Actually, yeah, I do.

CLINIC: Okay. It’s 961-7370. And we are open tomorrow from 11 to 7, actually 11:30 to 7. You can come here tomorrow and we can give the pregnancy test and stuff like that. And I’ll talk you to tomorrow about it. And my name is Doll.

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend wanted me to find out if we could get birth control. Like if I wasn’t pregnant, could you give me birth control?

CLINIC: Oh, yeah. You can start that right away. You okay? You can start that right away. Maybe we can make you a patient and start taking care of everything. We’ll take one step at a time, and we’ll try to get you in tomorrow, if you’re not pregnant.

CALLER: My parents don’t like my boyfriend. They just think he’s too old for me.

CLINIC: We won’t tell them. Like I said, we won’t tell them unless you tell them. So we’ll see you tomorrow. You come here and get your pregnancy test.

CALLER: So you won’t have to tell anybody about anything at all?

CLINIC: I would not call and tell anybody anything.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. Bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

1

#317 – Planned Parenthood in Grand Rapids, MI

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
233 E. FULTON ST. # 226
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503-3262
616-451-4988

TAPE – 317

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Kendall (?) Planned Parenthood. This is Kim. How may I help you?

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

CLINIC: We refer to the Heritage Clinic for that. We don’t perform abortions at this location.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have that number?

CLINIC: 458-3694.

CALLER: Okay. My friend told me that — I’ll be 14 in March, and she said that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he sign whatever that is?

CLINIC: No, he can’t. Actually, there’s something called the protection (unclear) under age 18. And you can actually petition the courts to waive that.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: To go to the courts?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Nothing.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Do I need to get a lawyer or anything?

CLINIC: Actually, you can contact Heritage Clinic, and they should have some information for you to do something called the judicial bypass.

CALLER: I haven’t really done a pregnancy test at all. Do you guys have that there?

CLINIC: We do by appointment only. And I can tell you right now, you could go to the Cherry Street Planned Parenthood, they will walk in today from 3 to 6 for teens. And you should go there and get a pregnancy test if you don’t know.

CALLER: Well, does anybody have to know that I’m there doing a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Nope. It’s completely confidential.

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

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: Could he be there with me and everything?

CLINIC: Yep, at Cherry Street Planned Parenthood form 3 to 6.

CALLER: Okay. My friend just told me to go to you guys.

CLINIC: Go to the Cherry Street Planned Parenthood. We do the same things, and they have a walk-in, and you need to get it done as soon as possible.

CALLER: Well, if the pregnancy test there said that I wasn’t pregnant, could I come to you guys and get some birth control?

CLINIC: You could stay there and get some birth control. We do the same thing.

CALLER: Oh. All right. Do you know if they would have to tell anybody that I was on birth control?

CLINIC: That’s completely confidential.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Uh-huh.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

***END***