PLANNED PARENTHOOD
14 COURT ST
FLEMINGTON, NJ 8822-1316
908-782-7727

TAPE – 063

CLINIC: Good afternoon, Planned Parenthood. This is Karen.

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

CLINIC: We don’t do them here. We would — if that’s what you’re seeking, we would do an exam, we would tell you how far along the pregnancy, and then we would give you a referral.

CALLER: Okay. Can I ask a few questions?

CLINIC: Sure. Well, my main question is my parents — like, my friend told me that my parents have to know about the abortion before I can have one. Is that true?

CLINIC: How old are you?

CALLER: I’m going to be 14 in March.

CLINIC: So you’re 13 now?

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: Okay. And how did you become pregnant? A boyfriend or —

CALLER: Uh-huh, yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. We can see you hear without parental permission. But —

CALLER: It’s just not way they can find out. Because they don’t like him because they think he’s too old.

CLINIC: How old is he?

CALLER: He’s 22.

CLINIC: Uh-huh. You may have a problem finding a facility that would be willing to do it because of your age.

CALLER: Why? Just because —

CLINIC: Because you are so young.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: When was your last missed period?

CALLER: Well —

CLINIC: When was your last period?

CALLER: — the last one was like — I’m not really sure how long ago it was. It was like — it was before Christmas. I think it was like probably the first week in December.

CLINIC: Okay. So the pregnancy is pretty new.

CALLER: Yeah, I guess.

CLINIC: Well, do you want to start by — I mean, we’re not going to ask for parental permission. Since you’re only 13, I would prefer if a parent or guardian came with you. Do you have an older sister or an aunt or anyone you can share this information with?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: You have nobody.

CALLER: Um-um.

CLINIC: Okay. So how are you going to get here? Your boyfriend?

CALLER: Uh-huh, yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. You can come in and have an exam.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Have you done a home pregnancy test?

CALLER: Well, yeah. I did one over the weekend. It said it was positive.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, you can come in, and we can do the exam. And we can try and help you find someplace if that’s what you want to do.

CALLER: Okay. And they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: I can’t promise you that. We would try and help you find someplace that would keep it confidential.

CALLER: Okay. Because they just can’t find out.

CLINIC: Yeah, I hear you. I hear you. What do you think would happen?

CALLER: Well, I don’t know. I don’t want to think about that. But my parents would be furious.

CLINIC: When are you available to come in?

CALLER: I don’t know. I’d have to talk to my boyfriend to see, but maybe Friday.

CLINIC: Okay. I have some appointments open Friday afternoon if you can come then.

CALLER: Okay. I have to call him and see.

CLINIC: You want to call him and call us back?

CALLER: Well, I guess. If, like — well, my other question is like, do you know if I could get birth control there or anything?

CLINIC: Umm-hmm.

CALLER: Yeah?

CLINIC: We can do birth control. Yeah. You have to deal with this pregnancy first, and then we can put you on birth control.

CALLER: Do you have to tell anybody about the birth control?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: All right. Okay. Let me talk to my boyfriend. Is it all right if I call you back?

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Sure. We’ll be here until 5:00. And then if you miss us, the office opens at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

CALLER: Okay. Is it all right to talk to you?

CLINIC: Yeah. You can talk to any of the nurses that answer the phone. I’m not usually here.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: Okay? But the supervisor’s name is Jean. You could talk to her. There are a couple of other nurses there. Okay?

CALLER: Is there any way I could talk to you? What was your name?

CLINIC: Karen.

CALLER: Karen?

CLINIC: Yeah. I won’t be in this office tomorrow though. If you call back before 5:00, I’ll still be here.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: But if you call tomorrow, I won’t be here. Then I would say ask for Jean —

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: — because I can tell her what we discussed.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: And she wouldn’t tell anybody either?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: All right then.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: We’ll talk to you later.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye.

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