#817 – Office Of Dr. Hamilton – Ob/gyn Unlimited in Manchester, NH

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Transcript:

OFFICE OF DR. HAMILTON – OB/GYN UNLIMITED
MANCHESTER, NH 03104
603-224-5017

TAPE – 817

(Dialing, phone ringing 5x)

CLINIC: Hello?

CALLER: Hi. Is this Dr. Hamilton?

CLINIC: It is indeed.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I got your number from the machine when I called your office.

CLINIC: Yes?

CALLER: I was just wondering if you do abortions?

CLINIC: Of course I do.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know how much it cost for that?

CLINIC: It depends on how pregnant you are. If you are less than 11 weeks, it is $300.

CALLER: How do you know how many weeks you are?

CLINIC: Well, it’s based on the first day of your last menstrual period.

CALLER: Well, that was January 15th.

(Pause)

CLINIC: I’m sorry. I’m at a gallery right now.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: January 15th makes you — it makes you about eight weeks pregnant. And that would make you perfect. I don’t generally do them before eight weeks.

CALLER: Well, the thing is my main worry is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month, like on the 19th. And my friend said that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of everything, and you wouldn’t —

CLINIC: Wait, wait, wait, wait —

CALLER: — tell anybody.

CLINIC: Wait a second. You don’t have to tell — where are you calling from?

CALLER: I’m in Hillsboro.

CLINIC: Hillsboro. I don’t have to tell your parents. It has nothing to do with age or anything.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Well, that’s what my friend told me.

CLINIC: Oh, cocka (?). If you’re in Massachusetts, yes, it’s true, but not here in New Hampshire.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Well, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this. Like she said he would pay cash for everything, but we don’t want anyone to know about us. Would he have to sign anything if he has to pay for it?

CLINIC: No, no, no. That’s fine. That’s fine. You don’t have to worry about that. This is all confidential.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Yes. Do you know what your blood type is?

CALLER: Well, no.

CLINIC: Because that’s a critical issue.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: The reason I say that is because 15 percent of the population is what we call RH negative. Eighty-five percent of the population is RH positive. Now you’re going to say, what the hell does that mean.

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: On the surface of our red blood cells there are protein complexes that we have been able to analyze. And we have given them arbitrary names. For example, if you have a certain protein complex, we call that A. If you have another certain protein complex, it’s called B. If you have both of them, it’s called AB. If you have neither, it’s called O. You follow me?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: That’s where your A, B, O comes from. There are multiple other protein complexes, one of which is called the RH factor. Again, 85 percent of the population has it; 15 percent doesn’t

Now, here’s the hooker. If you are RH negative, you need to get an injection of a medication called Rhogam to help protect you for future pregnancies. And I don’t really want to go into all the details right now. I’d be more than happy to do that in the future. But it’s important to know whether you’re RH negative or RH positive. If you’re RH positive, no problem. If you’re RH negative, that’s a problem. And then we would have to give you an injection of a medication called Rhogam. And that would cost you an additional $65.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All righty?

CALLER: Well, I haven’t had a pregnancy test yet. Would you guys do that beforehand just to make sure?

CLINIC: No, it’s something you should do to make sure.

CALLER: Well, where shall I go to get a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: Well, Family Planning, Planned Parenthood, one of those organizations.

CALLER: But would they have to tell anybody if I was there?

CLINIC: No. It’s all private, privileged, nobody’s business. No one is going to call your folks and say, “Oh, my God. Your daughter was here.” No. They’re not going to do that. This is all confidential stuff.

CALLER: Okay. So if it turned out that I was pregnant, how much money should we bring to come to you?

CLINIC: Well, first of all, we need to obtain a blood typing. We really don’t care whether you’re A, B, O or AB. We need to know whether you’re RH positive or RH negative. That’s really the critical issue. That you may have to go into a hospital and have done. Then the hospital is going to bill you. And they may bill you at your parent’s home. Do you understand where I’m coming from?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Whether or not you can pay them directly is up to the hospital. Where are you calling from? What’s the hospital nearest you?

CALLER: I’m not really sure. We just moved here.

CLINIC: You’re in Hillsboro?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. So you’d probably come into Concord. And how old are you?

CALLER: I’m 13. I’ll be 14 on the 19th.

CLINIC: (Grumbling sound) That’s going to be a problem. What we’re going to probably have to do — just so you understand — the hospital will not blood work on somebody who is under 18. So what you’re going to probably have to do is on the day that we — if you want to schedule a procedure with us, you’re going to probably have to come in an hour early. We will draw the blood from you. And then Sandy, my office nurse, will send you or your partner over to the hospital to drop it off, and they will do the blood work. But again, understand that they will probably bill you at your home address or your partner’s address.

CALLER: So I can give my boyfriend’s address?

CLINIC: Yes, you certainly can, if that’s not a problem.

CALLER: Yeah. He said that that would be all right.

CLINIC: Now, from what you’ve just told me, you’re about eight weeks pregnant, which is the optimal time that I would want to do this. Now, a question to you. How soon do you want to do this?

CALLER: Well, I’ve got to take a pregnancy test first. But I just — as long as no one finds out, I don’t really care.

CLINIC: Well, you can go to the drug store and buy yourself a pregnancy test kit.

CALLER: Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Well, most of them are pretty accurate unless you’re using marijuana.

CALLER: Oh, no.

CLINIC: I’m just telling you very honestly. Marijuana and aspirin can give you a false positive.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: If you normally have regular periods, and you haven’t been using any contraception, and your breasts are fuller and firmer and harder and painful, and you’re feeling kind of crappy in the morning — there are certain symptoms that go along with the fact that you probably are pregnant.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Have you ever skipped periods before?

CALLER: Well, no. I’ve been like a week or two late before, but never this late.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, the other issue is to go into a Planned Parenthood clinic or a Family Planning clinic and have them do a pelvic exam on you, and just make sure that you are indeed pregnant. Or go to a drug store and get yourself a pregnancy test kit. And you collect a sample of urine, and you drop a drop into a — they’re pretty accurate.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? Why don’t you check that first, get back to me. And if I can help you, I’ll be happy to do that.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Okay. Bye.

CLINIC: Bye now.

***END***

#769 – Concord Feminist Health Center in Concord, NH

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Transcript:

CONCORD FEMINIST HEALTH CENTER
38 S. MAIN ST.
CONCORD, NH 3301
603-225-2739

TAPE – 769

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Good morning. Concord Feminist Health Center.

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

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Okay. Do you know how much it cost to do that?

CLINIC: Yes, it’s $450 on a Visa or Master Card, $410 on a money order. We don’t accept cash or personal checks. And then we also are contracted with major health insurances.

CALLER: 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. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Okay. I’m sorry. So you’re 13 now?

CALLER: Right.

CLINIC: Okay.

CLINIC: But I’ll be 14 on the 19th.

CLINIC: What state do you live in?

CALLER: I live in New Hampshire.

CLINIC: Okay. Let me put you on old for one quick second for me, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Hi. Thanks for holding. Yes, there is no parental consent here in New Hampshire. Your parents do not have to know anything. You have the right to receive any services here in New Hampshire.

CALLER: The thing is, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and he said that he would pay cash for everything. But he just doesn’t want to sign any forms. Would that be all right?

CLINIC: Well, that’s something that you’re going to have to talk to your counselor and stuff about. Because it does get to be some situation with this age difference here.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: I mean, we’re going to have to give you some referrals, and you’re going to be able to talk to your counselor about this. There’s nothing that he’s going to need to sign. You’ll be signing for yourself consent forms. And the only thing you’ll need to provide though — you will need to provide us with an emergency contact name and information in case of an emergency.

CALLER: Well, what do you mean by referrals? What is that?

CLINIC: Well, when we speak to women in their counseling session, every woman who comes in here, you’ll meet with a health worker, and discuss your decision, and discuss your pregnancy situation, and make sure that you’re comfortable with this decision, and that this is what you want to do. You will have a counseling session.

CALLER: Okay. Well, me and my boyfriend, we’ve been talking about this every time we talk about it.

CLINIC: Do you know how far along you are in your pregnancy?

CALLER: Well, my last period was January 3rd.

CLINIC: Are your periods normal, was normal in flow and length?

CALLER: Usually.

CLINIC: But was it a completely normal period for you though?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: You’re almost about nine weeks along in your pregnancy. So we can see you up until the beginning of April. So we can certainly see you here.

Are you interested in making an appointment?

CALLER: Well, I was just wanting to ask you — I just haven’t had a pregnancy test. Do you guys do that before everything?

CLINIC: You need to go ahead and do that. You can just go ahead and get a home test.

CALLER: Are those right?

CLINIC: Yeah. Those are very, very accurate. Go ahead and take that and as long as you know your period date was normal and you know the first day of it like you do. As soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, that’s all we require here to make an appointment.

CALLER: Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?

CLINIC: You sure can. Yep, that’s fine. We can take care of anything that you need here for that.

CALLER: But would anybody have to know if I was on birth control?

CLINIC: No, no. You don’t need parental consent for that.

CALLER: My boyfriend was really wanting to know if anybody would have to be told about us.

CLINIC: Well, that’s one thing here that — I’m going to be honest with you. I went and I asked our practitioner about that. And that’s something I guess that would come up more during our counseling session. I’m sorry that I seem to be stumbling on my words. I’m going to put you on hold for one other quick second. I’m going to see if someone can try to give you some more answers about this, okay? Can you hold on for me one second?

CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Nicole.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Hold on one second.

(Pause)

CLINIC: What’s your name?

CALLER: It’s Lisa.

CLINIC: Lisa, I’m talking with a few other health workers because this is a situation honestly that doesn’t come up too often. And we want to find out a little bit more about this so we can be honest and up front with you before you make a decision.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Is there a number where we can reach you at to call you back? We’re going to make a few phone calls and just find out some general information.

CALLER: Well, I’m at my friend’s house, and her mom would answer the phone.

CLINIC: Okay. Do you want to call us back then in like a couple of hours?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: How about 2:00, you want to call us back?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: I won’t be here. When you call back, Lisa, why don’t you ask for a woman. Her name’s Karen.

CALLER: Karen?

CLINIC: Karen, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And make sure you give us a call. We’ll help you out as much as we can with everything, okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: All right.

CALLER: Thank you.

CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye bye.

(D-769, Side B)

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: (Unclear) Family Health Center.

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. Can I talk to Karen, please?

CLINIC: Karen Ashton?

CALLER: I don’t know. They just said to talk to Karen.

CLINIC: Okay. What’s your name?

CALLER: It’s Lisa.

CLINIC: Lisa what?

CALLER: Carter.

CLINIC: Carter. Okay. Let me see if she’s busy with someone. She may be. Hold on please.

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: She’s busy. Can I take a message?

CALLER: Well, she told me to call her back.

CLINIC: So just tell her that you returned her call.

CALLER: Yeah. Well, she was checking on something for me. So she said to — but could I talk to Nicole maybe?

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: No. I’m sorry. I thought you said you did talk to Nicole. Nicole’s gone too.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, I did talk to Nicole, and she was answering my questions. And she told me to talk to Karen and that Karen would look up some stuff for me.

CLINIC: Will you be wherever you are in about an hour or so?

CALLER: Yeah. Could I call you in an hour?

CLINIC: Yeah, you can call us in an hour. Would you rather that than us call you?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. All right. Why don’t you do that?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All right. Bye.

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: (Unclear) Feminist Health Center.

CALLER: Hi. Could I talk to Karen, please?

CLINIC: Hold on please.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Who’s calling, please?

CALLER: It’s Lisa.

CLINIC: Okay. Hold on.

(Short pause)

CLINIC: Lisa, she’s actually busy with someone, but she did let me know further what was going on. And she said we’re not going to deny any services or anything. So I can just go ahead and set up an appointment with you.

CALLER: Okay. What was your name?

CLINIC: Jessica.

CALLER: Oh, okay. All right.

CLINIC: Do you want to go ahead and do that?

CALLER: I’m just concerned because my boyfriend and I were talking about all this, and we just want to make sure that he wouldn’t have to fill out any forms or anything or his name wouldn’t be on anything.

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: All right. So you’re sure nobody would know about him then?

CLINIC: About him?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: You mean like being reported for statutory rape or anything?

CALLER: What?

CLINIC: Like what do you mean would know about him?

CALLER: Well, he said that he doesn’t want anyone to know about us.

CLINIC: Um-hmm, right. I see what you’re saying, yeah. No, we’re going to go about it in a confidential way, and we’ll sort of just talk about things when you come in. But we’re not going to release any information to anyone at this point at all.

CALLER: Well, would you ever have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: I don’t think so. I don’t really know the details. Maybe Karen is better for you to speak to about this. She was the one who checked out the laws or whatever, so I don’t know. And she’s still talking with someone. So do you want to just try back again?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. Sorry, Lisa.

CALLER: Oh, no problem.

CLINIC: All right. Bye.

(Dialing, busy signal)

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: (Unclear) Feminist Health Center. May I help you?

CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wanting to talk to Karen.

CLINIC: Karen’s on another line right now. Do you want to wait or have her call you back? Or is there something I can help you with?

CALLER: Well, everyone was saying to talk to Karen.

CLINIC: I’m sorry?

CALLER: Everybody was saying to talk to Karen.

CLINIC: Okay. What’s your name?

CALLER: Lisa Carter.

CLINIC: Lisa Carter?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: And is it about an appointment that you have with us?

CALLER: Well, I had a question.

CLINIC: Do you have an appointment with us?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Oh, okay.

CALLER: I wanted to ask the question before I made an appointment.

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Well, I can try and answer your question, if it’s something I can answer.

CALLER: Yesterday I asked a couple people, and they both said to talk to Karen.

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Is it about finances?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. All right. Do you want to hold?

CALLER: It’s just about whether or not you would have to report my boyfriend.

CLINIC: Right. Okay, yeah. I think she was looking into that. So why don’t you hold on for just a minute.

CALLER: Okay.

(Short pause)

CLINIC: Lisa?

CALLER: Uh-huh?

CLINIC: Hi. This is Jane again. I just talked to Karen for a second. She has to finish the appointment that she’s making on the other line.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: I don’t think we have a really clear-cut answer for you. We are mandated to report if somebody is under 13. If you’re over 13 —

CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 19th.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. If you’re under 18, the way that the law is, it says that if you’re being sexually exploited and you’re under 18, then it’s reportable.

CALLER: But I’m not being exploited.

CLINIC: But the law makes it as — the fact that your boyfriend is older, that in and of itself, they might interpret that as exploitation. I will tell you that if you want to come in here and receive birth control services from us, and — the thing is, if you give us information — if you tell us anything — then we may end up having to report it, if you tell us anything about your relationship.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So if you just make an appointment —

CALLER: Well, does it matter what age I am?

CLINIC: I’m sorry?

CALLER: Does it matter what age I am?

CLINIC: No. As a minor you can receive birth control services, and you can also receive an abortion without parental consent.

CALLER: So if I don’t say anything about my boyfriend, it would be better?

CLINIC: If you really don’t want this reported. You’re very young, and he’s older. Are you feeling like this is completely voluntary?

CALLER: Yeah. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. He’s a great guy. He said he was going to take care of me forever. I mean, we’ll have a family later but just not right now.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. You think you might be pregnant now?

CALLER: Well, yeah. I haven’t had my period since January 3rd, and that’s why I think that I’m pregnant.

CLINIC: Okay. January 3rd. Let me just check the date.

Are you on a cell phone?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: There’s weird sounds on your phone.

CALLER: I’m on a cordless.

CLINIC: You’re on a what?

CALLER: A cordless.

CLINIC: Oh. Okay, yeah. So it’s been about nine weeks since your last period. So if you’re wanting to have an abortion, that should happen pretty soon.

Is there nobody in your family that you can tell about this?

CALLER: No. I mean, it’s just me and my mom and dad. And I can’t tell them at all. I mean, they know about my boyfriend, and they know we’re going out. I mean, he works with my dad. But they don’t know we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that, I don’t know what they would do. They’d be furious.

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: So they can’t find out at all.

CLINIC: Yeah. You know, I just want to say, I think it would be a really good idea if you would talk to somebody about this whole situation, maybe a counselor at school, somebody outside of your family.

CALLER: But if I don’t say anything about my boyfriend, you won’t report it?

CLINIC: That’s what I’m saying. If we aren’t aware — if the person that you talk with isn’t aware, there would still be concern about the fact that you’re young. It’s kind of a gray area. I can’t give you an absolute answer one way or the other. It just depends on what’s — what we are confronted with when you come in. But definitely, if you need an abortion, we will give you an abortion.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And we have appointments a week from today, I believe. Let me just check and make sure of that. Have you not found out whether you’re pregnant or not yet?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: You haven’t had a test?

CALLER: I was wanting to come in and get one of those.

CLINIC: Can you come in say on Monday, Monday afternoon.

CALLER: Well, do you have hours tomorrow? Because my boyfriend doesn’t work on Saturdays.

CLINIC: You could do a home pregnancy test.

CALLER: Oh. Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Yes, they are. If you get a positive result, we would accept the result of that, and just make an appointment based on that. So if you take one tomorrow morning and it’s positive, you could call tomorrow because there are people on the phone 8:30 to 4:30 tomorrow.

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

CLINIC: Yes.

CALLER: But the thing is, I can’t drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to pick up the pills?

CLINIC: No. You would have to come in for a physical exam. When we prescribe the pill, we have to do a check-up first.

CALLER: Okay. But after that?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: He could pick up the pills then?

CLINIC: Well, I mean, we don’t — where do you live?

CALLER: I live in Davisville.

CLINIC: We have prescribe birth control pills, and we will give a couple of free packs at first, but we can’t keep on giving them out for free. We’re not a Planned Parenthood clinic. At Planned Parenthood clinics they can give them either for free or for very low cost because they get federal funding to provide low-cost services —

CALLER: So would it be better to go there?

CLINIC: — especially with teenagers. Yeah. For ongoing care, it’d be better to go to Planned Parenthood.

CALLER: But would they have to tell anybody about anything?

CLINIC: I don’t believe so. Again, I don’t want to tell you necessarily to withhold information, but that’s the situation you’re in. This is a tough — you have to understand that from an adult perspective, looking at your situation, it doesn’t seem right, you know?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Because somebody your age, generally, it would be better for them to wait until they have a little bit better judgment about things. And sometimes a man who’s older can seem very kind and considerate of you, but —

CALLER: He’s wonderful.

CLINIC: Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: It’s a situation that arouses concern in adults when they see that kind of an age gap. So you might run into some questions. I don’t necessarily think that you would end up being reported, but there will be questions if people know.

CALLER: Well, I’ve got to go. My friend’s mom is coming. I’ve got to go.

CLINIC: Okay. So go have a test and call us.

CALLER: Okay. Thank you. Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

***END***

1

#682 – Feminist Health Center Of Portsmouth in Greenland, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

FEMINIST HEALTH CENTER OF PORTSMOUTH
559 PORTSMOUTH AVE
GREENLAND, NH 3840
603-436-7588

TAPE – 682

(dialing sound) (ringing 2X)

CLINIC: Good morning. Feminist Health Center.

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

CLINIC: We do.

CALLER: Okay. Well, much does that cost?

CLINIC: Well, it depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how do you know?

CLINIC: Do you know the first day of your last period?

CALLER: January 3.

CLINIC: And as far as you can remember was that a normal period for you?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Were you taking any birth control pills, depo provera, Norplant at the time?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: January 3. So that would put you right now at under 9 weeks.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? So you would definitely be in a time that we could see you here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Do you have insurance?

CALLER: Well, no, but my boyfriend said that he would pay for everything.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, that’s, you know, between you and him.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: If you wanted to pay with a credit card, the cost for the procedure would be $425.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And if you wanted to pay with cash it would be $410.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? And then the only other cost that could be accrued by you — do you happen to know your blood type?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay. We give you a finger prick while you’re here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: What we’d be testing for is the positive or negative factor in your blood.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? And if you were negative you’d need an injection called Rogam (sp).

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: That medication helps protect you from the buildup of antibodies in your blood which could attack a future pregnancy.

CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know, it’s just — the thing is I’m going to be 14 later on this month.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: And my friend said 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?

CLINIC: The — in New Hampshire there is no parental consent laws.

CALLER: Okay. So it’s all right if he’s there with me and is paying for everything?

CLINIC: Yep. There is no parental consent laws in New Hampshire.

CALLER: Okay. All right. Well, do you guys do a pregnancy test there just to make sure?

CLINIC: Have you already had one?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: Okay, that’s the first thing you want to do.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: We wouldn’t even set up an appointment until you take a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Okay. So do I come in there for that or —

CLINIC: No, you can just go get one that’s over the counter.

CALLER: Oh. Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Yeah, they’re usually very accurate.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? So you could do that. And then we could go from there.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: In terms of the procedure, have you gotten any information about that?

CALLER: Well, no, but my friend told me some stuff, so.

CLINIC: Okay. Did your friend have one here?

CALLER: Well, I don’t know. She just knows about it.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: But is there any way that I couldn’t, that I’m not pregnant?

CLINIC: Well, that’s what we need you to — I mean, there’s a million things that could be causing you not to get your period.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Obviously pregnancy would be the first thing that would be the most obvious.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? But that’s why we ask that you take a pregnancy test first.

CALLER: Okay. Well, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t — it’s just, the thing is, we don’t want anyone to know about us. If we came in there, would you have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Like who?

CALLER: I don’t know. Just anybody?

CLINIC: No. I mean, you know, as long as — you know. We strive for confidentiality here, so.

CALLER: Okay. Well, so if it turned out after the pregnancy test that I take, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant could I come to you guys to get like birth control?

CLINIC: Yeah, definitely.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Most definitely. I mean, we just need to make an appointment. You need to have a pap smear and stuff like that, but yeah, we could set up an appointment for you to come do that as well.

CALLER: How much does birth control cost?

CLINIC: Well, if you were — basically what we’d have to have you do is come in for a pap smear and a gynecological visit.

CALLER: How much does that cost?

CLINIC: That’s $73.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And then you would also get a bill from the lab that processes your pap smear, and that would be, I think it’s around $28.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And then after that, depending on what method of birth control you were thinking about, you discuss that with one of our counselors.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And then we would write you a prescription, or whatever needed to be done, depending on what you wanted. Did you have something that you’re leaning toward?

CALLER: I don’t know. I just don’t want my parents to find out. But me and my boyfriend just don’t want to go through all this again, so.

CLINIC: Right. Well, you would be able to, you know, discuss that with a counselor here what you wanted to do with the birth control at that point.

CALLER: Okay. But if he was — it’s just I can’t drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to — like if I’ve got pills, would my boyfriend be able to pick those up?

CLINIC: You’re not going to get them from us.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: You’re going to get a prescription.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: So. But I would first figure out what’s going on with your — with the pregnancy test, and then, you know.

CALLER: Okay. So do the pregnancy tests and then call you back? What was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Kristen.

CALLER: Okay. Thanks.

CLINIC: Okay. Yep. Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

#663 – Planned Parenthood in Manchester, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
575 S. WILLOW ST. # 205
MANCHESTER, NH 3103-5792
603-624-1191

TAPE – 663

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: Good afternoon, Planned Parenthood.

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know of anyplace that might?

CLINIC: Where are you calling from?

CALLER: I’m in Hillsboro.

CLINIC: Are you more closer to Concord?

CALLER: Well, it’s about the same distance it is between — I’m right between you and Concord.

CLINIC: I’ll give you a couple numbers in Concord. They only have one place, and it’s only between seven-and-a-half and eight weeks.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: It’s the Concord Feminist Health Center. And their phone number is 225-2739. And there’s also OB/GYN Unlimited. And their phone number is 224-5017. And if you call them and they don’t answer, I believe they instruct you to leave your name and phone number, and they’ll give you a call back because they’re not always in the office.

CALLER: Well, the thing is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month, and my friend said you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Could he just sign whatever it is, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Well, you wouldn’t come here anyway because we don’t do that. How old are you?

CALLER: I’m going to be 14 on the 20th.

CLINIC: If you go to one of them I’m not sure if they have to tell your parents or not.

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend’s 22. Is that old enough to take care of it, and they wouldn’t have to —

CLINIC: It’s not his decision, and it’s not his appointment. So I don’t think he would really be able to do anything like that.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: You know what I mean. And you’re the one that’s going in. Unless say you were his daughter, then he could sign in for you. But since he’s only your boyfriend, no.

CALLER: Oh, all right. Could I come in there for a pregnancy test to see though? It’s just that I haven’t had my period since January 3rd, and I’m just really scared about all this.

CLINIC: I don’t have anything until either next week or the week after.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But I can tell you how far along you are by the date of your last period.

CALLER: It was January 3rd.

CLINIC: That was the first day of it?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Right now it’s March. You’re probably eight-and-a-half weeks.

CALLER: Okay. So am I too far to go to the one place you were saying I should go?

CLINIC: No. You could call either of them, and they can see you.

CALLER: So I could still come in there for a pregnancy test just to make sure though?

CLINIC: Did you take a home test?

CALLER: Well, no.

CLINIC: Then why do you think you’re pregnant?

CALLER: Because I haven’t had my period for a long time.

CLINIC: Okay. I would do a home test because we can’t get you in until a few weeks.

CALLER: Oh. But are those usually right?

CLINIC: Don’t do a store brand. I would do like an EPT, you know a good brand.

CALLER: Okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I come in there for birth control?

CLINIC: Yeah, but you have to make an appointment.

CALLER: Oh, okay. But would you have to tell anybody if I was there for that?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Me and my boyfriend talked about this, and we don’t want anybody to know about us. He’d be the only way I could get there. But if he was there, would you have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: Just because you are under age and he is older we might have to report you.

CALLER: Report me?

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

CALLER: To who? What do you mean?

CLINIC: To the state.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: I don’t know if your parents would have to get involved or not, but it’s one thing we might have to do.

CALLER: I don’t want anyone to get in trouble. What can I do?

CLINIC: There’s nothing really. I don’t know. Just don’t tell them how old he is or anything like that, but they may find out anyway.

CALLER: Okay. So would it just be better that he wasn’t there?

CLINIC: Possibly. I mean, it depends. The only thing is you’re under the age of consent. That’s why.

CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 20th.

CLINIC: Yeah, it doesn’t matter. You’re still under.

CALLER: All right. I don’t know what to do. What should I do?

CLINIC: If you’re not pregnant, you can go down to the Teen Clinic — which is run by us on Thursdays; it’s a walk-in clinic for teens — and you can get birth control down there.

CALLER: Okay. But would anyone have to know about my boyfriend there?

CLINIC: No, not unless you don’t bring him.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, would anybody have to be told that I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: No. Nobody would find out, not your parents, your friends, or anybody.

CALLER: Well, would they have to report it or anything?

CLINIC: Not unless you don’t tell them how old he is.

CALLER: If I had any other questions, could I call and talk to you? What was your name?

CLINIC: My name’s Kathleen. You could call any of the sites.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right. Thanks.

CLINIC: Thanks.

***END***

#664 – Planned Parenthood in Bedford, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
82 PALOMINO LANE # 601
BEDFORD, NH 3110-6448
603-669-7321

TAPE – 664

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

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

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

CLINIC: We don’t do them here, no.

CALLER: Well, do you know of anybody that does?

CLINIC: Yeah. Where are you from?

CALLER: Well, my friend lives there in Bedford, and she told me to call you guys.

CLINIC: Well, what she’d probably have to do — is she positive she’s pregnant?

CALLER: Well, it’s me. Are you there?

CLINIC: Yeah. You just said it was your friend.

CALLER: I’m at my friend’s house.

CLINIC: Oh. Okay. I can give you some phone numbers. Do you know how far along you are?

CALLER: Well, no. I just haven’t had my period for a while. That’s why I’m scared. I haven’t had my period since like January 3rd.

CLINIC: And are you not using any form of birth control?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: How old are you?

CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 20th.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Would you have to tell my parents though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: My boyfriend’s 22. He said he would take care of everything. So would you have to tell my parents?

CLINIC: Not that I’m — well — why don’t you hold on one moment.

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Hello?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: Hi. Okay. You said you’re going to be 14 on the 20th?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. And you said your boyfriend is 22?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: If you made an appointment with us, we would have to report it to DCYF.

CALLER: Who is that?

CLINIC: I’m not sure of the letters. The Division of Youth Services.

CALLER: Oh. Why?

CLINIC: Because you’re 14 and he’s 22.

CALLER: Well, is that bad?

CLINIC: Well, it’s not good (chuckle). It means that it’s reportable. It’s reportable by us if you come in here for an appointment.

CALLER: What could happen?

CLINIC: It would be up to them what would happen. I can’t really say. I’m not a lawyer. But they could — I don’t know. I mean, it would be up to them as to what they would do.

CALLER: Well, what should I do? I mean, I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.

CLINIC: (Pause) I really don’t — I’m not the one to advise you on this.

CALLER: Well, would it just be that I go someplace else then?

CLINIC: I can give you the names of some people that do terminations, but — I mean, the regulations — and you can’t talk to your parents?

CALLER: No. I mean, they know we’re going out, but they don’t know that we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that I don’t know what they would do, let alone if I was pregnant.

CLINIC: Well, what I would do first I think is probably go and get a pregnancy test. Go to the store and buy one.

CALLER: Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Well, buy an EPT one or something like that. And do that as your first step.

CALLER: Well, what if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant? Could I come there for birth control and you guys wouldn’t tell anybody?

CLINIC: You know, I’m not even positive on that. I would have to have you talk with somebody else to be able to advise you on that. I mean, you can come to us for birth control. Anybody over the age of 13 can come for birth control. But —

CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know if I was on birth control though?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: No?

CLINIC: But see there’s a fine line because your boyfriend is 22.

CALLER: Well, what if I — I don’t know.

CLINIC: I’m just not positive either. Do you have a family doctor that you have or anything like that?

CALLER: Well, not really. We just moved here, so we don’t really have a normal doctor yet.

CLINIC: Okay. Hold one moment.

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Hi. I’m looking up some information for you if you want to just hold a moment longer.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Hi.

CALLER: Hi.

CLINIC: Okay. I’m not finding anything in any of the literature that I have on what would happen.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Because he’s 22 and you volunteered that information to me, to the best of my knowledge it would have to be reported because you are 13.

CALLER: Would it be better if I didn’t tell you?

CLINIC: Well, at this point — I mean, you have told me (laughing).

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: I think what you have to do is why don’t you go and buy a pregnancy test first and see if you are pregnant. Do a morning urine at your house and see if it’s positive. Don’t buy like a Wal-Mart brand or something like that. Buy whatever they’re called, EPT or something like that.

CALLER: Okay. Are those usually right?

CLINIC: Those are pretty accurate. If they’re positive, they’re positive.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So you’ve been having intercourse and you have not used any protection at all.

CALLER: Right.

CLINIC: And he has not used anything?

CALLER: Not that I know of. I don’t think so.

CLINIC: Okay. Then why don’t you do that first. And try to talk to your parents. I mean, I think that’s your best bet. Try to talk to your parents about what’s going on.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: You may need their help if you are.

CALLER: I can’t really tell them at all.

CLINIC: Yeah. But also the fact that he’s 22, I mean, he’s an adult. You’re in a very difficult area as far as the law goes. And I’m not the person to tell you what the law is.

CALLER: Okay. So there’s no way to get around telling my parents you think?

CLINIC: I don’t know. You know your parents, but that’s up to you. I can advise you I think it’s best to talk to your parents, but that’s strictly just advice; it’s not telling you what to do. I can’t tell you what to do. Only you can decide that.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Nobody can make the decision for you.

CALLER: I’m just scared.

CLINIC: First off, go and get the pregnancy test and do that.

CALLER: If I did the home pregnancy test and it said that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: That’s a question I don’t have an answer to. I really just don’t have an answer for you. If you wanted to call back, I have — the site manager that might be able to answer that question, she’s with a patient right now. So if you could call back in say about 15 minutes, I can try to get an answer for you.

CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name then?

CLINIC: My name’s Connie.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Did you call here last week?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: No? Okay. We had another case that was very similar. Okay.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Thank you.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

#609 – Planned Parenthood in Derry, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
4 BIRCH ST
DERRY, NH 3038-2136
603-434-1354

TAPE – 609

(Dialing, phone did not ring)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Erin (ph). How can I help you?

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

CLINIC: We don’t. We can give you a few numbers to call though.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Where are you from?

CALLER: I live in Fremont.

CLINIC: In Fremont?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Where is that near?

CALLER: Well, it’s like 20 minutes away from you guys.

CLINIC: Okay. It’s south. Is that Fremont Massachusetts or New Hampshire?

CALLER: It’s in New Hampshire.

CLINIC: Is that north? I don’t know my geography. Is that north or south of Barre?

CALLER: I think it’s northeast of you.

CLINIC: Oh, okay. Let’s see. We have a few numbers here. The Concord-Simmons (sp) Health Center in Concord might be fairly close to you. Their number is 225-2739. And in Manchester there’s Manchester Obstetric Associates. And that’s 622-3162. And in Portsmouth there’s the Portsmouth Feminist Health Center.

CALLER: That’s kind of long.

CLINIC: Is that far away?

CALLER: No, it’s just long to write. So what was the number for that?

CLINIC: The number for them is 436-7588. And another one in Concord is Dr. Hamilton. And that’s 224-5017. And for Dr. Hamilton, when you call there’s not people there answering the phones. Basically what you have to do is leave a message, give your name and your phone number, and they call you back.

CALLER: Well, could I ask you a quick question then?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: It’s just I’m worried because I’ll 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. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: The only issue with that is — you don’t need parental consent because the state of New Hampshire doesn’t require it. If you went to Massachusetts, that’s a different story. They require parental consent, but in the state of New Hampshire they don’t. The fact that your boyfriend is 22 is an issue.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: Because that’s basically illegal.

CALLER: Why is that illegal?

CLINIC: Because you’re a minor.

CALLER: He’s not doing anything bad.

CLINIC: Is he the one that got you pregnant?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: We’re in love. We’re going to get married. It’s just we can’t have a baby right now.

CLINIC: No, I’m not judging you. I’m not judging you. Don’t worry about that. I’m just warning you.

CALLER: Well, what should I do then?

CLINIC: At that point, I’m not saying that he shouldn’t pay for it or whatever. Be careful.

CALLER: Well, the thing is I’m scared because I haven’t had my period since December 26th.

CLINIC: Oh, no. You should definitely make the phone call. Definitely make the phone call.

CALLER: Okay. Well, could I come in there for a pregnancy test to see if I was pregnant?

CLINIC: Oh, yeah. You could do that.

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody about him if I came in there?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Really? Okay. So when do you guys normally do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: When do we deal with pregnancy tests?

CALLER: When do you normally do them?

CLINIC: We have a walk-in on Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4:30 if you want to come in during that time. You can just walk in.

CALLER: All right. If I wasn’t pregnant, would I be able to get birth control the same day?

CLINIC: Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

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

CLINIC: Nope. That’s confidential.

CALLER: But you sure you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about my boyfriend if I came in?

CLINIC: It depends on — it’s a foggy issue.

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

CLINIC: I know. I know. Basically — it’s a touchy issue at that point. I wouldn’t necessarily — I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to tell you what to do about the whole situation.

CALLER: I just don’t know what to do.

CLINIC: I would just come in, take the test. If you’re not pregnant, we’ll put you on birth control, and I wouldn’t worry about it.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right. Well, he would have to take me. I mean, I wouldn’t have any other way to get there if he wasn’t there.

CLINIC: Okay. I wouldn’t worry about it. Don’t worry about it. Just come on in on Wednesday afternoon. I mean, we’re not going to sit down and ask you all about your life and your boyfriend and all that; you know what I mean?

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: So don’t worry about it. Come on in.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: All right. Thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

***END***

1

#610 – Planned Parenthood in Keene, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
29 CENTER ST.
KEENE, NH 3431-3351
603-352-6898

TAPE – 610

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Martha.

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

CLINIC: We don’t do them at this site. We do have a Planned Parenthood in West Lebanon that offers that service. Is this for you?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. So do you know how far along you are?

CALLER: Well, no. I’m just worried because I haven’t had my period since like December 26th.

CLINIC: Okay. And have you done a pregnancy test?

CALLER: Well, no.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Could I come in there for that?

CLINIC: Yep. You could do that. I’m going to take a look at what we have early next week. Is there a day that’s better for you to come in next week?

CALLER: Well, I have to call my boyfriend to see. But 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. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: I think legally we would have to report it.

CALLER: Why?

CLINIC: It’s really just the New Hampshire state law. It’s a little confusing to me to be honest. But if you’re under 14 and you’re sexually active, supposedly that is reportable.

CALLER: Well, what would happen?

CLINIC: What would happen? I think that they would call the Department of Children and Families, and then they would try to contact you most likely.

CALLER: I’ll be 14 on the 9th.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. On the 9th of what?

CALLER: Of this month.

CLINIC: Of this month?

CALLER: Yep.

CLINIC: Can you hold for a second? I’m just going to check on that?

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Okay. So I just checked with one of the practitioners on what the state law is. So if you were to come in, I guess regardless of how old you are, because your partner is more than six years older than you, that is considered reportable by the state. So what would happen is what I told you, that we would contact the Department of Children and Families, and then we don’t know what would happen from there, really. I think they would try to contact you.

CALLER: Well, I don’t want anybody to get in trouble.

CLINIC: Right, right. I know. I don’t know what to say. I feel awful. That’s just the law, and that’s how it’s set up, that we have to do that.

CALLER: Well, what if he didn’t come with me?

CLINIC: Well, I would say if it didn’t come up that it would probably — if you didn’t mention that part, then we wouldn’t know that.

CALLER: Well, do I have to tell them who my boyfriend is?

CLINIC: I don’t think so.

CALLER: So I could come in for a pregnancy test and find out if I was pregnant or not?

CLINIC: Right. Yeah, we could do that. Now, you’re late for your period, right?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. Or you could take a home pregnancy test if you want to try that first.

CALLER: Are those usually right though?

CLINIC: Yeah. They’re basically the same as the ones we’re going to do here. So if you’re late for a period, it’s going to show up on a pregnancy test by now. So I would try that first. You can come in here to have a visit, talk about what your options are.

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

CLINIC: Yep. Sure, we can do that.

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

CLINIC: I’m not sure what you mean.

CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know if I was on birth control?

CLINIC: Because you’re 13?

CALLER: Well, yeah.

CLINIC: I don’t think they would be told that you were on birth control, but they would know if you had any sexual contact and you’re 13.

CALLER: So I can’t even get birth control then?

CLINIC: I would say if you’re going to turn 14 next Saturday to give us a call. And you’re welcome to come in. I’m just letting you know it would be reported. I don’t know what would happen from there. So you could come in for the pregnancy test and have the options discussed if it is positive, or we could talk about birth control.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Can you talk to your parents about this at all?

CALLER: No. I mean, they know my boyfriend but they just don’t like him because they think he’s too old for me. But they don’t know we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that I don’t know what they would do.

CLINIC: Right. Yeah. I’m not sure what else we can do. You can come in for the pregnancy test, and we can go from there. But I just need to let you know it would be reported. All righty?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Thank you.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

***END***

#611 – Planned Parenthood in West Lebanon, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
89 S. MAIN ST.
WEST LEBANON, NH 3784-1699
603-298-7766

TAPE – 611

(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)

CLINIC: Good afternoon, Planned Parenthood. Heather speaking.

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 370.

CALLER: 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. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: It depends. Typically, if you’re 13 we have to — and it’s up to the practitioner when you come in. But sometimes they have to make a report to the state.

CALLER: Why?

CLINIC: Because of your age.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: Sometimes they do an investigation. It would really depend on what happens at the visit and what they determine at that time. It wouldn’t be due to the termination, just due to the fact that you’re having intercourse.

CALLER: What should I do? I don’t want to get in trouble.

CLINIC: Well, I can’t really make any guarantees that they would not make a report to the state due to the fact that you’re 13, because you’re considered a minor.

CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 9th.

CLINIC: But you’re 13 now?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: I can’t make any guarantees. What we could do is have you come in for an options counseling and a pregnancy test visit if you wanted to. But I can’t really make any guarantees

CALLER: Okay. The main reason why I’m worried about all this is that I haven’t had my period since December 26th, and I’m scared.

CLINIC: Um-hmm. I can understand that.

CALLER: But you guys do pregnancy tests there?

CLINIC: Yeah, we do.

CALLER: Oh. Well, would you have to report it if I was getting a pregnancy test to see?

CLINIC: It would depend on the practitioner when she saw you. She would have to make that determination at that time.

CALLER: Well, do they have to know how old I am?

CLINIC: Yeah, we need your birthday.

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

CLINIC: Yep.

CALLER: But would you have to report it then?

CLINIC: It doesn’t really have to do with whether you’re pregnant or whether you’re getting birth control. I can’t make any guarantees of what the practitioner —

CALLER: So basically if I walk in the door you have to report it?

CLINIC: If you become a patient of ours we might have to. I can’t make any guarantees one way or the other.

CALLER: Oh, okay. Is there any other place I could go?

CLINIC: You could go to another doctor’s office, but I would suppose that they are mandatory reporters as well.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: But it’s something that you should get taken care of.

CALLER: Well, I don’t want to get in trouble.

CLINIC: Well, let me put you on hold for one moment, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Sorry to put you hold. How can I help you?

CALLER: I was just talking to Heather.

CLINIC: Right, okay. I just wanted to make sure it was you. It didn’t sound like you.

CALLER: Oh, I’m sorry.

CLINIC: So pretty much whether you are pregnant or not, which it sounds like you are — you took a test?

CALLER: Well, no. I just haven’t had my period since December 26th.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, it’s important whether you go to the drug store and you take a test or whether you come in here to get a test, that whether you’re pregnant or not, you get your options talked about. And if you decide to parent, you would need to have prenatal care. And if you decided to terminate, if your period was back in December, it’s a time sensitive issue. So you need to be seen.

CALLER: Well, I just don’t want my boyfriend to get in trouble.

CLINIC: Like I said, I can’t make any guarantees. But at this point you really need to worry about your health first and foremost I think. I’m not going to promise that I can make a guarantee that they would not report to the state, but it’s really important that you get your health —

CALLER: Well, what if he didn’t come in with me?

CLINIC: I don’t know. I would suppose you could refuse to give a name. But I think first and foremost you need to think about you and your health.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Do you want to make an appointment?

CALLER: Well, I have to call and talk to him and think about all this.

CLINIC: I’ll let you know, we do have walk-in hours for just pregnancy tests on Monday from 1 to 4.

CALLER: But would anybody have to know about me having a pregnancy test?

CLINIC: I don’t believe we have to release that information.

CALLER: So you wouldn’t have to report that?

CLINIC: I’m not a hundred percent sure. I don’t think we have to report why you’re here, but we may have to report just the fact that you’re sexually active.

CALLER: Oh. Okay.

CLINIC: So why don’t you think about it. But really think about the fact that you should get it checked out.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All right. Whether you come here or whether you go somewhere else.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right. Thank you.

CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye bye.

CLINIC: Bye.

***END***

#009 – Planned Parenthood in Portsmouth, NH

Listen to the Call:

Transcript:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
167 HIGH ST.
PORTSMOUTH, NH 3801-3708
603-431-6803

TAPE – 009

(Dialing, phone ringing 2x)

CALLER: Good morning, Planned Parenthood. Sharon speaking. How may I help you?

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: No? Do you know anyone that I could talk to or call about that?

CLINIC: The Feminist Health Center.

CALLER: Okay. Do you have that number?

CLINIC: Yep, just one moment.

CALLER: All right.

(Pause)

CLINIC: Okay. It is 436-7588.

CALLER: 7588?

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

CALLER: May I ask a question?

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

CALLER: Well, my friend told me that you guys have to tell my parents before I can have an abortion; is that true?

CLINIC: No. How old are you ?

CALLER: I’m going to be 14 in March.

CLINIC: No, I don’t think so.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Just one moment.

(Pause)

CLINIC: How old are you now?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: In March, but you’re not yet.

CALLER: Right.

CLINIC: For us, the law is that we would have to.

CALLER: You would have to tell my parents?

CLINIC: Um-hmm.

CALLER: Is there any way that you wouldn’t have to? Well, my boyfriend’s 22. And if they found that we were having sex, I would get in big trouble.

CLINIC: Well, you need to call the Feminist Health Center and talk to them about the whole situation.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, they wouldn’t have to tell about my boyfriend or anything?

CLINIC: What?

CALLER: They wouldn’t have to tell about my boyfriend or anything?

CLINIC: Who wouldn’t have to tell?

CALLER: Well, anybody. They wouldn’t have to tell?

CLINIC: I don’t know. You have to talk to them. I don’t know what they have to follow. Maybe it’s different. But I think it might be a state law. So you’re going to have to talk to them, okay?

CALLER: Do you guys do birth control there?

CLINIC: Yep.

CALLER: Yeah? And you wouldn’t have to tell my parents about that?

CLINIC: No, no.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Are you pregnant?

CALLER: I think so.

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: But I don’t know. I took a pregnancy test over the weekend.

CLINIC: It was positive?

CALLER: Yeah, I think.

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: So I don’t know.

CLINIC: What would you have to do is call them and get it confirmed by them, and see what they have to say. The only thing we can do is do a pregnancy test here, but we don’t do abortions here.

CALLER: Do you have to tell anybody about the pregnancy test there?

CLINIC: Huh?

CALLER: Do you have to tell anybody about the pregnancy test?

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Nope, we don’t.

CALLER: Is it cool if — I need to see if I can make an appointment, but I have to talk to my boyfriend and see when he can get off so he could take me.

CLINIC: Well, we’re booked right up until the beginning of March. When do you think you got pregnant? How long has it been since you had sex?

CALLER: Well, like in December.

CLINIC: Yeah?

CALLER: It was like maybe the first week in December.

CLINIC: And you haven’t had a period since?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: No? Wow. Okay. Talk to him and then call us back, okay?

CALLER: Is it cool if I talk to you?

CLINIC: Yes. I’m Sharon.

CALLER: Sharon? All right.

CLINIC: And then maybe we can get you in. I’ll talk to a practitioner here, okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: All right.

CALLER: Thank you.

***END***