TAPE - 504

(sounds of dialing, phone ringing.)

One moment, please, while I transfer your call. (music) At Planned Parent we provide a full range of health services including gynecological appointments and birth control, prenatal care, HIV testing, abortions, vasectomies, female --

Hello. You have reached the clinic. If you would like an appointment or to speak to someone in the clinic, please hold on the line and your call will be answered in the order it's received. Thank you.

-- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (music plays) (phone rings)

You've reached the clinic. How can I help you?

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

CLINIC: Yes, we do.

CALLER: Well, okay. Well, how much does that cost?

CLINIC: Anywhere between $500 and $600. Depending on how far along you are it can be more.

CALLER: Oh. Well, how do you know how far along you are?

CLINIC: You need an ultrasound.

CALLER: Oh. Okay. Well, I'm just -- do you know like if -- I'm just really worried because like I'm going to be 14 in March, and my friend said that you guys would have to tell my parents I'm getting an abortion.

CLINIC: No.

CALLER: But my boyfriend's 22. Could he just handle that, and you wouldn't have to tell anybody anything?

CLINIC: No. Have you been here before?

CALLER: No.

CLINIC: No. As a matter of fact, if you bring your boyfriend here they're going to call the cops.

CALLER: Why?

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

CALLER: Well, why would they call the cops? I mean --

CLINIC: Because we're mandated to report. That's called child abuse.

CALLER: He's not abusing me. I mean, we're in love. We're going to get married and spend the rest of our lives together.

CLINIC: (pause) Um, let me see if I can make you an appointment, and you do not need a parent's consent, and you do not need your boyfriend either.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Hold on.

CALLER: He'd be the only way I could get here.

CLINIC: Okay. Hold on. (pause) Well, I won't do that. Just, you know, I'm just letting you know what can happen.

CALLER: So I just shouldn't bring my boyfriend then?

CLINIC: No, you can. But --

CALLER: But then he'd go to jail?

CLINIC: No, don't let them know that he's your boyfriend.

CALLER: Oh, okay. All right. It's just --

CLINIC: Do you have health insurance or Medical?

CALLER: No. He said he was going to pay for everything. So.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: It's just I'm really scared because like I haven't had my period since like December 21st, and I don't know what to do.

CLINIC: When was the first day of your last period?

CALLER: December 21st.

CLINIC: December 21st? Let me see. And you're sure that you want to have an abortion?

CALLER: Well, I don't know what else to do. I mean, is there -- should I just come in for a pregnancy test and see?

CLINIC: Okay. If your first day of your last period was December 21st, we are approximating that you're about 9 weeks and three days.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? By the time I make your appointment you'd be about 10 weeks.

CALLER: Okay. Well, how much would it cost then?

CLINIC: It would be about $420.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? That's including everything.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Let me make you an appointment for --

CALLER: Well, like, could I come in for a pregnancy test just to make sure I was pregnant?

CLINIC: Yeah, we can do everything on Friday.

CALLER: On Friday?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: Well, what time on Friday?

CLINIC: You want to come in before then?

CALLER: I don't know.

CLINIC: You can come in today.

CALLER: I have to call my boyfriend and see when he can get the time off work. But I don't know when to come in because he has to take me. But --

CLINIC: Okay. Does he --

CALLER: What time on Friday?

CLINIC: He works?

CALLER: Yeah. I mean, he has a job.

CLINIC: Okay. What time does he get off of work? I can make you an appointment about the time where he's getting off.

CALLER: Oh. Well, he gets off at 5:00.

CLINIC: Around 5:00? Okay. Let's make you an appointment.

CALLER: But like say the, say that the pregnancy test came out that I wasn't pregnant. Would you guys be able to --

CLINIC: We can get you started on birth control.

CALLER: Really?

CLINIC: Yeah.

CALLER: But does anybody have to know about that?

CLINIC: No. This is, everything's strictly confidential.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay? Let's see. You want to come in tomorrow?

CALLER: What time tomorrow?

CLINIC: You said he gets off at 5:00?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: You want to come in at 5:30?

CALLER: I think we could probably get there by then.

CLINIC: Okay. What is your name?

CALLER: Christine.

CLINIC: Christine, C-H?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Your phone number? I mean, your phone number, I mean your last name?

CALLER: Smith?

CLINIC: Smith?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: Okay. Your date of birth?

CALLER: March 19th, 1988.

CLINIC: March 19th. You're going to have a birthday pretty soon, huh?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: What are you doing for your birthday?

CALLER: Oh, I don't know.

CLINIC: You don't know yet? Do you have a pager, cell number where we can get ahold of you just in case?

CALLER: Well, my boyfriend just got a cell phone but I don't know the number yet.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Is it all right if I call you back with that?

CLINIC: Yeah. That's fine.

CALLER: What's your name?

CLINIC: My name is Lisa.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. So we'll see you tomorrow at 5:30 for -- we're going to do a pregnancy test.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: An ultrasound.

CALLER: Uh-huh.

CLINIC: And bloodwork. Basically, we're going to draw some blood.

CALLER: And you're sure you won't have to tell anybody about any of this?

CLINIC: Nobody.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: So everything's strictly confidential.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay. Well, do you know what? Yeah. Let me double-check, okay?

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Well, everything regardless is strictly confidential, but, um, we can also -- what we can do, we can get you on this program after.

CALLER: Um-hum.

CLINIC: After, if you are pregnant?

CALLER: Yeah.

CLINIC: It has to be after the determination. Okay?

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: If you're not pregnant, we can get you on another program, and when you come in tomorrow you can ask if they can get you started on some type of birth control.

CALLER: Oh, okay.

CLINIC: Okay?

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: And we'll give you a pamphlet with all the information regarding birth control.

CALLER: Okay.

CLINIC: Okay? What else? Let's see. I think that's about it. And you're sure that you want to terminate the pregnancy?

CALLER: Yeah. We've been talking about it, and that's what we decided to do.

CLINIC: Okay. So we'll see you tomorrow at 5:30.

CALLER: All right.

CLINIC: Okay.

CALLER: Thanks.

CLINIC: Bye bye. (phone clicks)

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