TRINITY VALLEY WOMEN’S CLINIC
1325 S. MAIN ST.
FORT WORTH, TX 76104
817-335-6641
TAPE – 788
(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)
CLINIC: Trinity Valley Women’s Center. This is Linda. May I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: How much does it cost for that?
CLINIC: How far along are you?
CALLER: I’m not sure. How do you know?
CLINIC: By your first day of your last period.
CALLER: Oh. Well, that was January 3rd.
CLINIC: Okay. Let’s see. That’s putting you at about eight to nine weeks. And at that time you have the choice for a local or an IV sedation. A local is when they deaden the area with monocaine, but you will feel some cramping. They’ll give you a 10 milligram of valium to help relax you. That’s 305. Or you can have an IV sedation. That’s where you don’t remember the procedure itself, and that’s 390. And those prices do include the two-week check-up, a package of birth control pills if you want them, and your two take-home medications you’ll be on for a few days.
CALLER: Okay. Well, 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: No. In the state of Texas you have to have parental consent. Unfortunately, that’s the state law. And you’re how old?
CALLER: I’m going to be 14 on the 19th.
CLINIC: Okay. So you’re 13 now and he’s 22?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: (Pause) What we have to do is have one of the parents come up here with their drivers license and sign an affidavit that they’re aware of your decision.
CALLER: Well, is there any way not to have to tell them at all?
CLINIC: You’d have to go to court and get a judicial bypass.
CALLER: What is that?
CLINIC: It’s just a note from the judge saying that if you told your parents that they would beat you or harm you in some way. You have to have a really good reason why you wouldn’t want to tell them.
CALLER: How much does it cost for that?
CLINIC: I have no idea. I can give you the name of the attorney that we go through, and she can help you with that. Her name is — I just talked to the receptionist over there. What’s her name? (Pause). Okay. The number is 817-870-9159.
CALLER: What was her name?
CLINIC: The attorney’s name is V.C. Cornish (ph). That’s her office, and I cannot remember for the life of me what that lady’s name is, her secretary. But anyway, just tell them you talked to Trinity Valley, and you want to know how to get a judicial bypass.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do the judges always say yes?
CLINIC: I don’t know. We’ve never done one to tell you the truth. Since this law’s been in effect, we’ve always had the girls come up with one of their parents.
CALLER: Well, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t want anyone to know about us. But he said he was going to pay for everything with cash. Would he have to fill out any forms or anything?
CLINIC: No. As far as payment goes, we don’t care who pays. It doesn’t matter to us who pays. But with your age and everything — why can’t you tell your mother or dad?
CALLER: I can’t tell them at all. If they found out — well, they know my boyfriend. I mean, he works with my dad, and they know we’re going out. But if they knew that we were having sex, I don’t know what they would do. They can’t find out about that at all.
CLINIC: Yeah. Oh, boy. He works with your dad?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: But how about your mother? How about telling your mom? You would be surprised at how understanding they can be.
CALLER: I don’t think so. I mean, they never listen to me. They don’t understand anything.
CLINIC: Do you have an aunt?
CALLER: No. I don’t have any family here.
CLINIC: Gosh. That is the only thing. Even if he was older, we have to see their drivers license. And we can’t prove that they’re not your mom or dad. They just have to swear on an affidavit here in our office that says that they are your parent. But if he tried to do that — your boyfriend, he’s 22 and you’re 13 — that only would make him 9 when you were born. When you were born, he would be 9. So you can’t do that. But you see what I’m saying? There’s no way for us to know whether or not it’s your legal parent if you don’t tell us. You have to have a person — hang on just one second.
CALLER: Okay.
(Pause)
CLINIC: Okay. What I’m saying is, if you bring an adult up here and they’re swear that they’re your parent, and they don’t tell me that they’re not your parent, I have no way of knowing or not.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: But they can’t be 20 years old and you’re 14. You see what I’m saying?
CALLER: Yeah, I see.
CLINIC: They have to be old enough to be your parent. And that’s the only way you can get by it. But if they walk in this door and say, I’m not really her parent, then I say bye bye.
CALLER: Well, maybe my boyfriend knows somebody.
CLINIC: I mean, you know, I’m not even suppose to be telling you this. But there’s no way that I can know for a fact that who you bring in here is not your mom or dad. See what I’m saying? If they’re old enough to be your parent.
CALLER: I haven’t had a pregnancy test yet. Would you guys do that beforehand just to make sure I was pregnant?
CLINIC: Yeah. If you want to come up here and do a pregnancy test, you don’t need to have parental consent for that, and it’s free.
CALLER: Oh, really?
CLINIC: Um-hmm.
CALLER: When do you guys normally do that?
CLINIC: We could do it any day before 4:00.
CALLER: Do you have any hours on Saturday?
CLINIC: No, we’re not open on Saturday.
CALLER: So anytime before 4:00 in the week?
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Monday through Friday.
CALLER: How soon would I know that I’m pregnant or not?
CLINIC: About 10 minutes.
CALLER: If it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?
CLINIC: Uh-huh. You pay $75 for a pap smear, then they’d put you on birth control pills and give you two free months supply. And then write you out a prescription for the remaining 10 months that you fill each month at the drug store.
CALLER: But my boyfriend can pay for that. That’s all taken care of. Would anyone have to know if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: No. You don’t have to have parental consent for birth control.
CALLER: It’s just we don’t want to have to go through this again.
CLINIC: I understand that. Okay?
CALLER: So you’re sure nobody would have to know about me and my boyfriend or anything?
CLINIC: I’m sorry. What did you say?
CALLER: You’re sure no one would have to know about me and my boyfriend or anything?
CLINIC: Uh-uh. Not to do a pregnancy test or birth control pills. Anything but an abortion, nobody has to know. You don’t even have to show your i.d. when you do the pregnancy test.
CALLER: If I had any other questions, could I call and talk to you? What was your name?
CLINIC: My name is Linda. I’ll be glad to talk to you. What’s your first name?
CALLER: Lisa.
CLINIC: Lisa?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay, Lisa. Just give me a call if I can help you, baby.
CALLER: Okay. Thanks.
CLINIC: Okay. You’re welcome. Bye bye.
***END***
TAPE D-788
(Dialing, phone ringing 1x)
CLINIC: This is Linda. May I help you?
CALLER: Hi, yeah. I called yesterday and was asking some questions about getting an abortion. My name is Lisa. Do you remember talking to me?
CLINIC: I think I do.
CALLER: Okay. Well, the thing is, I was talking to my boyfriend, and I told him what you said about getting someone to come in that was old enough to look like my dad.
CLINIC: Yes, yes, yes.
CALLER: Well, he’s got an uncle who’s 50 who said he would do it. When he comes in, what should he say?
CLINIC: What you’ll do is come to the window and say that you have an appointment; my name is Lisa whatever, that you have an appointment. And then I’ll ask to see your i.d. Then I’ll say I need to see Dad’s i.d. And then he just hands me my i.d.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: And I make a copy of it. I make a copy of yours. And then a little while later I call him back, and he just signs the notary stating that he is your parent.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And the only time that would be a problem is if he tells me I’m not her parent. Because I’m not — you know.
CALLER: Well, he said he would do it for my boyfriend.
CLINIC: Well, as long as he doesn’t tell me he’s not your father, then we’re all right.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: All right.
CALLER: So when should I come in?
CLINIC: Okay. Now, how far along are you?
CALLER: Well, you said yesterday like nine weeks. But I haven’t had a pregnancy test yet. Should I do that first or —
CLINIC: Well, we do a pregnancy test here. And so you can either come ahead of time for the pregnancy test, or you can just do it all, if you know you’re pregnant and there’s no doubt about it.
CALLER: Well, does he have to come with me for the pregnancy test?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You can come until 4:30 today or on Monday from 8 to 4. Just drop by and do a pregnancy test. And then if you want to do a sonogram to determine how far along that you are, you can do that too. That’s $100, and we deduct it from the price of the procedure, if you want to. If not, you can just wait until you schedule. But when you come in to do the pregnancy test, they’ll schedule your appointment when you find out that it’s positive. Then they’ll schedule you an appointment. And just tell them you’ll be bringing your dad.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: And that’s all you need to do.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: All righty, sweetie. You know how to get here?
CALLER: Yeah. So I don’t have to bring him for the pregnancy test then?
CLINIC: No. The only —
CALLER: Just after it’s positive.
CLINIC: Yes. When you bring him for the actual procedure, he just has to wait until I get him to sign the notary, and then he can leave. Or he can come at anytime and show me his license. If that’s not convenient for him to come during the appointment, ya’ll can come ahead of time and sign.
CALLER: Oh, all right.
CLINIC: But my boyfriend could be with me for the pregnancy test and the procedure?
CLINIC: No. They can’t go back with you, but he can sit in the lobby.
CALLER: Oh, okay. So they can both be there?
CLINIC: Uh-huh.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And if he wants to get it over with and sign the papers then, he can. Just ask for Danielle or me. I won’t be here Monday, but Danielle will be. And I’ll tell her about it.
CALLER: And you’re sure that nobody would ask about my boyfriend.
CLINIC: Ask about him?
CALLER: Right.
CLINIC: No. They wouldn’t ask anything about him.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Uh-uh, he doesn’t have to show his i.d. or anything.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Let me tell you when Danielle will be here because she’s the notary. Are you coming Monday to do this?
CALLER: I’ll try. I think so.
CLINIC: Okay. If you’re coming Monday to do this, Danielle won’t be here until about noon, from noon to 4:30. So you’ll have to come between noon and 4.
CALLER: Okay. And if it turned out I was pregnant, then we’ll schedule the abortion?
CLINIC: Yeah. And if he comes with you, he can sign the notary and get it over with; then he doesn’t have to come back.
CALLER: So it would be better if he came to the pregnancy test then?
CLINIC: I think so. And then he could sign the notary and be done with it. And then you’re set to go, and your boyfriend can bring you in for the actual abortion and he doesn’t even have to be involved. Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: And we don’t ask for his i.d. once we got the notary papers.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right, thanks.
CLINIC: We’re located at 1325 South Main.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay. We’ll see you then. Your name is Lisa, right?
CALLER: Right.
CLINIC: Okay. I’ll tell Danielle.
CALLER: Okay, thanks.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***