PLANNED PARENTHOOD
125 PARK ST
SPRINGFIELD, VT 5156-3032
802-885-4701

TAPE – 563

(dialing sounds) (ringing 3X)

CLINIC: Hello. Planned Parenthood. This is Deborah.

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

CLINIC: No, we don’t.

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

CLINIC: Have you had a positive test done?

CALLER: No. I’m just really worried because I haven’t had my period since like December 26.

CLINIC: Well, the first thing to do would be to get a test done.

CALLER: Okay. Well, it’s just the thing is, my friend told me that like — well I’m going to be 14 next month, and she 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 have to tell anybody?

CLINIC: (pause) (laughs) In Vermont there’s — you don’t have — your parents don’t have to know.

CALLER: Oh, really? Okay.

CLINIC: Do you live in Vermont?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. You sound like you’re far away somehow. I guess it’s our connection that we have here.

CALLER: Oh.

CLINIC: And the same is true in New Hampshire.

CALLER: Oh, really?

CLINIC: In some states you do have to tell parents. The larger problem is, the age difference between you and your boyfriend.

CALLER: What do you mean?

CLINIC: There are laws that are — that, that kind of age discrepancy can be reportable.

CALLER: Well, what could happen?

CLINIC: Well, they can report to Social Services that —

CALLER: Well, would they have to tell my parents?

CLINIC: Well, when that happens, yeah, it ends up being an issue.

CALLER: An issue? Well, what should I do? Should I just not —

CLINIC: Well, the first thing you should do is get a test done to see whether you really are pregnant. Then —

CALLER: But would you have to tell my parents about that?

CLINIC: Then you would need to — just whether you’re pregnant or not? No.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: And then we would give — we would tell you what your options are and give you a list of referrals for both prenatal care and adoption services as well as abortion providers.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: And then you would call whichever one was your choice.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And they would explain what you need to know on that end.

CALLER: Oh. Well, it’s just —

CLINIC: Making appointments and what not.

CALLER: Well, what do you mean about like the issue? I don’t understand.

CLINIC: Well, if you don’t bring up how old he is, then we don’t know.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: (laughs)

CALLER: All right. Well, so — well he said that he was going to pay for everything.

CLINIC: Do your parents know that you’re seeing him?

CALLER: Well, yeah. But they don’t know we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out we were having sex I don’t know what they would do. I mean, they can’t find out at all.

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: So.

CLINIC: So when was your last period?

CALLER: December 26.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Is it possible I’m not pregnant?

CLINIC: Well, have you missed periods before? How long have you been having your period?

CALLER: For like a couple years.

CLINIC: Okay. But have you ever been irregular before?

CALLER: No, I don’t think so. Not really. But if I wasn’t pregnant could I come in there and get birth control?

CLINIC: Um-hum.

CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody about that?

CLINIC: Nope.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: I would say you need to get this pregnancy test done fairly quickly.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Um, abortions can be done after 12 weeks, but it’s a little bit easier and less expensive if it’s done before that. So I would — where is that you live?

CALLER: I live in Chester.

CLINIC: Okay. Why don’t I give you the Rutland Planned Parenthood number, and they may be able to do everything for you?

CALLER: Oh. Well, so it would be better if I don’t go to you, or —

CLINIC: Why don’t —

CALLER: Do they do abortions there?

CLINIC: Yeah. That’s why I’m saying that that might be a good place for you to and — Rutland or West Lebanon. I don’t know which one you could get to more easily.

CALLER: I don’t know.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, let me give you the phone numbers.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Rutland is 775-2333. And West Lebanon is 603-298-7766.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And they should be able to do the test and do the other for you if that’s what you choose.

CALLER: Okay. Well, are the tests from the store accurate?

CALLER: Pretty much.

CLINIC: I didn’t want to do one of those because I didn’t think they were right.

CALLER: Pretty much, but it’s going to cost you about the same or maybe even less to go to one of our offices, and then you’ll know you’ve got a more accurate result, and they also can do a physical exam if they feel like they’re not sure about how far along you might be — which you can’t do with a store test obviously.

CLINIC: So anymore questions or anything else?

CALLER: Well, no. I’ll just call them and see. But, all right.

CLINIC: All right. Take care then.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye.

CALLER: Bye.

(phone clicks)

*** THE END ***

4