PLANNED PARENTHOOD
PO BOX 961
BEMIDJI, MN 56619
218-751-8683

TAPE – 325

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood in Bemidji. This is Heidi. How can I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Do you know of anyplace that does?

CLINIC: Will you hold on for one second, please?

CALLER: All right.

RECORDING: Did your condom break, forget to take your birth control pill, forced to have unprotected sex? To cut your risk of unintended pregnancy, contact our clinic today. Emergency contraception can help to prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. At Planned Parenthood, giving you the tools you need to protect yourself comes first. A member of our staff will be with you shortly. We apologize for the wait, but please know we are eager to answer your call.

High-quality health care doesn’t have to come with a high price. Planned Parenthood believes that all of our patients deserve the best level of health care at an affordable price. We accept a wide range of insurance, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Health Partners, Medica, U-Care (ph), Minnesota Care, medical assistance and county insurance plans. Many of our clients even offer reduced fees for annual exams and contraception to patients who meet eligibility guidelines. Remember, at Planned Parenthood your health comes first. Helping you to make the most of your reproductive health is our top priority. Affordable —

CLINIC: Thanks for holding. You wanted to know some names of abortion clinics?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Now the places to obtain abortions are going to be either Fargo, Duluth, Minneapolis or St. Paul.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: A location that makes best for you though?

CALLER: Probably Fargo.

CLINIC: Fargo? Okay. Red River Women’s Clinic is in Fargo. And their toll free number is 888-928-9009.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All righty?

CALLER: My friend told me that since I’ll be 14 in March that my parents have to sign some stuff. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he take care of that?

CLINIC: You know what? I don’t think I would be telling people that you’re 13 years old and you’re dating a 22-year-old-man.

CALLER: Why not?

CLINIC: Because that’s statutory rape, and your boyfriend might end up in jail.

CALLER: What is statu — he could end up in jail?

CLINIC: It means that you’re not old enough to give consent to have sex with a 22-year-old-man.

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

CLINIC: In the eyes of the law you’re not old enough to give consent, okay? I know on an individual basis that might be different, but we’re talking about the law here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? And the law states that a 22-year-old man having sex with a 13-year-old girl is illegal, okay?

CALLER: Well, I’m scared, and I don’t know what to do.

CLINIC: You need to talk to your mom.

CALLER: My last period was in December, and I’m just worried.

CLINIC: Okay. I would first of all really encourage you to talk to your mom about this.

CALLER: But I can’t. She won’t understand at all. She hates him.

CLINIC: Well, you know, yeah, Mom might get mad, but it would be a really great thing if you could talk to her about this. This is very important.

CALLER: But I can’t. She would get furious. I don’t know what she would do.

CLINIC: Okay. Then why don’t you call the abortion clinic and talk to them about how to get a judicial bypass. You’re going to have to go talk to a judge and tell the judge the situation, and a judge may give you permission to have an abortion without notifying your parents.

CALLER: Do you think that I couldn’t be pregnant maybe?

CLINIC: Sure. Have you had a pregnancy test?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Maybe you need a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Well, could I do that there?

CLINIC: Yes, you can. We’re here until 4:30 today.

CALLER: Okay. Well, what about tomorrow?

CLINIC: 11 until 6:30 we’re here.

CALLER: Well, if I came in for a pregnancy test, would you have to tell anybody that I was there for that?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Okay. Well, is it all right if my boyfriend is there with me? Because I wouldn’t have any other way to get there.

CLINIC: Ummm, yeah. That will be fine.

CALLER: But you guys wouldn’t have to say anything? Would he have to fill out any papers or anything?

CLINIC: Can you hold for just a minute?

CALLER: All right.

(Pause)

RECORDING: (Message repeated).

CLINIC: Okay. Yeah, that’s not a problem. Just come on in tomorrow before 6:30.

CALLER: But you guys wouldn’t have to talk to him or he wouldn’t have to talk to anybody at all?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: I just don’t want him to get arrested or anything.

CLINIC: Okay. But it is a crime if there is sexual contact and penetration and the complainant is under 13 years of age. So if you’re 12 years old and having sex with anyone, it is illegal.

CALLER: Yeah, but I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: You’re going to be 14?

CALLER: In March.

CLINIC: And he’s more than two years older than you.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: Okay. So that’s a crime. It’s not a mandatory report. I don’t have to turn him in to the law.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: But I’m going to talk to you about that.

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

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

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

CLINIC: We can make you an appointment to get on to a birth control method.

CALLER: But you guys don’t have to tell anybody that I’m on birth control?

CLINIC: Nope, I don’t.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. You’re Heidi?

CLINIC: No, this is Paula.

CALLER: Oh, all right. So if I had any other questions, I could call and ask for you?

CLINIC: You bet, uh-hmm.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All righty.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Um-hmm. Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

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