PLANNED PARENTHOOD
117 S. 5TH ST.
KINGSVILLE, TX 78363-5418
361-592-2649

TAPE – 463

(dialing sounds) (ringing 2X)

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

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

CLINIC: No, we sure don’t. The closest is Corpus, and then we have a Planned Parenthood in San Antonio that does.

CALLER: Oh. Well, do you have that number, the one for Corpus?

CLINIC: Corpus is a private physician. His number is 888-7972.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, do you know — like I’m just really worried and I don’t know — like my friend told me, like I’m going to be 14 in March, and my friend told me that they would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it and they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: No. There is a law in Texas that the parents have to be notified. They don’t have to have consent, but they do have to be notified.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: There is a way to get around that. It’s called a judicial bypass where you have to go before a judge and prove that you’re making a sound decision. And if the doctor in Corpus will not help you with that, you can go to the San Antonio Planned Parenthood. We have someone there that will take you through the process to help you get it done.

CALLER: Okay, well, do I need like a lawyer for that?

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: No. They’ll help you with all the paperwork and everything and, like I say, it goes before the judge and he makes the decision.

CALLER: Well, what if the judge says no?

CLINIC: Well, and it’s possible that he would, but generally he doesn’t.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Yeah, and it may be different judges that make the decision, but as a general rule if you go through the process and everything you can prove that you’re making a decision not, you know, it’s not a quick decision — that you’ve thought about it, you know your options, that kind of stuff. That’s what they want to see.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

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

CLINIC: You can. It’s $10. Well, you’re 14? It’s $5.

CALLER: Okay. Well, it’s just —

CLINIC: I will tell you that there is a law in the state of Texas. Now, see you’re 14 already, right?

CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.

CLINIC: Okay. There’s a law in the state of Texas that says if you are under the age of 14 or even under the age of 16 or 17 if your boyfriend is more than 3 years older than you we have to report it to the police.

CALLER: Why?

CLINIC: It’s the law.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: They usually come and make a report, and — but we cannot control from there whether they call your parents or notify them or anything like that.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: So — and I don’t know that they do. It’s usually just a report to prove that you weren’t being taken advantage of that, kind of stuff.

CALLER: Well, no, we’re in love, we’re going to get married.

CLINIC: Yeah. But that’s — I mean, it’s the law. And so, just so you know.

CALLER: So if I came in there for a pregnancy test you’d have to report me?

CLINIC: Yep. Sure would.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: Yeah. If you tell us your boyfriend’s that much older than you, then we have to report it.

CALLER: Well, should I just not say anything?

CLINIC: I can’t tell you that.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: Okay? (laughs)

CALLER: All right. Well, it’s — would it be better just to get like a home pregnancy test?

CLINIC: You can do that.

CALLER: Are they usually right though?

CLINIC: If you get a quality one, like EPT or something like that. Don’t buy a cheap one.

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

CLINIC: Sure.

CALLER: Well, would you have to report me if I was there for that?

CLINIC: If we know that your boyfriend’s that much older than you, yes. If you’re just a 14-year-old coming in for birth control, you can do that.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: But you wouldn’t have to tell anybody that I was there for that?

CLINIC: No. The only thing would be if you — you know, if you’re being abused or anything. But no.

CALLER: But, but I won’t be 14 until like next month, so.

CLINIC: That’s okay. Now, I will tell you, if you come back pregnant or if you come back with a sexually transmitted diseases — those are two other situations in which we have to report it. Okay?

CALLER: Okay. All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Well, thanks.

CLINIC: You’re welcome.

CALLER: Bye.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

(phone clicks)

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