#644 – Planned Parenthood in Bedford, NH
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
82 PALOMINO LANE # 601
BEDFORD, NH 03110-6448
603-669-7321
TAPE – 664
(Dialing, phone ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Good afternoon, Planned Parenthood. May I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: We don’t do them here, no.
CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know of anybody that does?
CLINIC: Yeah. There’s — Where are you from?
CALLER: Well, my friend lives there in Bedford, and she told me to call you guys, so.
CLINIC: Well, what she’d probably have to do — is she positive she’s pregnant?
CALLER: Well, it’s me. Are you there?
CLINIC: Yeah. Okay. You just said it was your friend.
CALLER: I’m at my friend’s house.
CLINIC: Oh. Okay. I can give you some phone numbers. Do you know how far along you are?
CALLER: Well, no. I just haven’t had my period for a while. That’s why I’m scared. I haven’t had my period since like January 3rd, so.
CLINIC: Okay. And are you not using any form of birth control?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Well, how old are you?
CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 20th.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Would you have to tell my parents though?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: It’s just my boyfriend’s 22. He said he would take care of everything. So would you have to tell my parents?
CLINIC: Not that I’m — well — why don’t you hold on one moment.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hello?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: Hi. Okay. You said you’re going to be 14 on the 20th?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. And you said your boyfriend is 22?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. If you made an appointment with us, we would have to report it to DCYF.
CALLER: Who is that?
CLINIC: I’m not sure of the letters. The Division of Youth Services.
CALLER: Oh. Why?
CLINIC: Because you’re 14 and he’s 22.
CALLER: Well, is that bad?
CLINIC: Well, it’s not good (chuckle). It means that it’s reportable. It’s reportable by us if you come in here for an appointment.
CALLER: What could happen?
CLINIC: It would be up to them what would happen. I can’t really say. I’m not a lawyer. But they could — I don’t know. I mean, it would be up to them as to what they would do.
CALLER: Well, what should I do? I mean, I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.
(pause)
CLINIC: I really don’t — I’m not the one to advise you on this.
CALLER: Oh. Well, would it just be that I go someplace else then?
CLINIC: I mean, I can give you the names of some people that do terminations, but — I mean, the regulations — and you can’t talk to your parents?
CALLER: No. I mean, they know we’re going out, but they don’t know that we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that I don’t know what they would do, let alone if I was pregnant.
CLINIC: Well, what I would do first, I think, is probably go and get a pregnancy test. Go to the store and buy one.
CALLER: Are those usually right though?
CLINIC: Well, buy an EPT one or something like that.
CALLER: Okay. Okay.
CLINIC: And do that as your first step.
CALLER: Well, what if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant? Could I come there for birth control and you guys wouldn’t tell anybody?
CLINIC: You know, I’m not even positive on that. I would have to have you talk with somebody else to be able to advise you on that. I mean, you can come to us for birth control. Anybody over the age of 13 can come for birth control. But —
CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: No?
CLINIC: But see there’s a fine line because your boyfriend is 22.
CALLER: Well, what if I — I don’t know.
CLINIC: Yeah, I’m just not positive either. Do you have a family doctor that you have or anything like that?
CALLER: Well, not really. I mean, we just moved here, so we don’t really have a normal doctor yet.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold one moment.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hi. I’m looking up some information for you if you want to just hold a moment longer.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hi.
CALLER: Hi.
CLINIC: Okay. I’m not finding anything in any of the literature that I have on what would happen.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Because he’s 22 and you volunteered that information to me, to the best of my knowledge, it would have to be reported because you are 13.
CALLER: Would it be better if I didn’t tell you?
CLINIC: Well, at this point — I mean, you have told me (laughing).
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: I think what you have to do is why don’t you go and buy a pregnancy test first and see if you are pregnant. Do a morning urine at your house and see if it’s positive. Don’t buy like a Wal-Mart brand or something like that. Buy whatever they’re called, EPT or something like that.
CALLER: Okay. Are those usually right?
CLINIC: Those are pretty accurate. If they’re positive, they’re positive.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So you’ve been having intercourse and you have not used any protection at all.
CALLER: Right.
CLINIC: And he has not used anything?
CALLER: Not that I know of. I don’t think so.
CLINIC: Okay. Then why don’t you do that first. And try to talk to your parents. I mean, I think that’s your best bet. Try to talk to your parents about what’s going on.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: You may need their help if you are.
CALLER: Well, I can’t really tell them at all.
CLINIC: Yeah. But also the fact that he’s 22, I mean, he’s an adult. You’re in a very difficult area as far as the law goes. And I’m not the person to tell you what the law is.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: So there’s no way to get around telling my parents you think?
CLINIC: I don’t know. I mean, you know your parents, but that’s up to you.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: I can advise you I think it’s best to talk to your parents, but that’s strictly just advice; it’s not telling you what to do. I can’t tell you what to do. Only you can decide that.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Nobody can make the decision for you.
CALLER: I’m just scared.
CLINIC: First off, go and get the pregnancy test and do that.
CALLER: Okay. If I did the home pregnancy test and it said that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: That’s a question I don’t have an answer to. I really just don’t have an answer for you. If you wanted to call back, I have — the site manager that might be able to answer that question. She’s with a patient right now. So if you could call back in say about 15 minutes, I can try to get an answer for you.
CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name then?
CLINIC: My name’s Connie.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Now did you call here last week?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: No? Okay. We had another case that was very similar. Okay. Okay.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Thank you.
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***
#769 – Concord Feminist Health Center in Concord, NH
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
CONCORD FEMINIST HEALTH CENTER
38 S. MAIN ST.
CONCORD, NH 03301
603-225-2739
TAPE – 769
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Good morning. Concord Feminist Health Center.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know how much it cost to do that?
CLINIC: Yes, it’s $450 on a Visa or Master Card, $410 on a money order. We don’t accept cash or personal checks. And then we also are contracted with major health insurances.
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: Okay. I’m sorry. So you’re 13 now?
CALLER: Right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: But I’ll be 14 on the 19th.
CLINIC: What state do you live in?
CALLER: I live in New Hampshire.
CLINIC: Okay. Let me put you on old for one quick second for me, okay?
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hi. Thanks for holding.
CALLER: Hi, yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Yes, there is no parental consent here in New Hampshire. Your parents do not have to know anything. You have the right to receive any services here in New Hampshire.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Alright. Well, the thing is, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and he said that he would pay cash for everything. But he just doesn’t want to sign any forms. Would that be all right?
CLINIC: Well, that’s something that you’re going to have to talk to your counselor and stuff about. Because there does get, you know, to be some situation with this age difference here.
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: I mean, we’re going to have to give you some referrals and, you know, you’re going to be able to talk to your counselor about this. There’s nothing that he’s going to need to sign.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: You know, you’ll be signing for yourself consent forms. And the only thing you’ll need to provide though — you will need to provide us with an emergency contact name and information in case of an emergency.
CALLER: Oh. Well, what do you mean by referrals? What is that?
CLINIC: Well, when we speak to women in their counseling session, every woman who comes in here, you’ll meet with a health worker, and discuss your decision, and discuss your pregnancy situation. And make sure that you’re comfortable with this decision and that this is what, you know, you want to do. You know, you will have a counseling session.
CALLER: Okay. Well, me and my boyfriend, we’ve been talking about this, I mean, every time we talk about it.
CLINIC: Okay. Do you know how far along you are in your pregnancy?
CALLER: Well, my last period was January 3rd.
CLINIC: Okay. And are your periods normal, was normal in flow and length?
CALLER: Usually.
CLINIC: Okay. But was it a completely normal period for you though?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Let’s see, so January 3rd. Yeah, you’re almost about nine weeks along in your pregnancy. So we can see you up until the beginning of April.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So we can certainly see you here.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So are you interested in making an appointment?
CALLER: Well, I was just wanting to ask you —
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: I just haven’t had a pregnancy test. Do you guys do that before everything?
CLINIC: You need to go ahead and do that. You can just go ahead and get a home test.
CALLER: Are those right?
CLINIC: Yeah. Those are very, very accurate. Go ahead and take that and as long as you know your period date was normal and you know the first day of it like you do. As soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, that’s all we require here to make an appointment.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys?
CLINIC: You sure can. Yep, that’s fine. We can take care of anything that you need here for that.
CALLER: But would anybody have to know if I was on birth control?
CLINIC: No, no. You don’t need parental consent for that.
CALLER: Okay. Well, my boyfriend was really wanting to know if anybody would have to be told about us.
CLINIC: Well, that’s one thing here that — I’m going to be honest with you. I went and I asked our practitioner about that. And that’s something, I guess, that would come up more during our counseling session. I’m sorry that I seem to be stumbling on my words. I’m going to put you on hold for one other quick second. I’m going to see if someone can try to give you some more answers about this, okay? Can you hold on for me one second?
CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name?
CLINIC: My name’s Nicole.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on one second.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Thanks for holding. What’s your name?
CALLER: It’s Lisa.
CLINIC: Lisa, okay. Lisa, I’m talking with a few other health workers because this is a situation honestly that doesn’t come up too often. And we want to find out a little bit more about this so we can be honest and up front with you before you make a decision.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Is there a number where we can reach you at to call you back? We’re going to make a few phone calls and just find out some general information.
CALLER: Oh. Well, I’m at my friend’s house, and her mom would answer the phone.
CLINIC: Okay. Do you want to call us back then in like, you know, a couple of hours?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay. Do you wanna say — How about 2:00, you want to call us back?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: I won’t be here. When you call back, Lisa, why don’t you ask for a woman. Her name’s Karen.
CALLER: Karen?
CLINIC: Karen, okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And make sure you give us a call. We’ll help you out as much as we can with everything, okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: All right.
CALLER: Thank you.
CLINIC: You’re welcome. Bye bye.
TAPE – 769 Pt 2: The Call Back
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Concord Feminist Health Center.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. Can I talk to Karen, please?
CLINIC: Karen Ashton?
CALLER: I don’t know. They just said to talk to Karen.
CLINIC: Okay. What’s your name?
CALLER: It’s Lisa.
CLINIC: Lisa what?
CALLER: Carter.
CLINIC: Carter. Okay. Let me see if she’s busy with someone. She may be. Hold on please.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: She’s busy. Can I take a message?
CALLER: Well, she told me to call her back.
CLINIC: Okay. So just tell her that you returned her call.
CALLER: Yeah. Well, she was checking on something for me. So she said to — but could I talk to Nicole maybe?
CLINIC: Um-hmm.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Oh, no. I’m sorry. I thought you said you did talk to Nicole. Nicole’s gone too.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, I did talk to Nicole, and she was answering my questions. And she told me to talk to Karen and that Karen would look up some stuff for me, so.
CLINIC: Okay. Alright. Will you be wherever you are in about an hour or so?
CALLER: Yeah. Could I call you in an hour?
CLINIC: Yeah, you can call us in an hour. Would you rather that than us call you?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. All right. Why don’t you do that?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right. Bye.
TAPE – 769 Pt 3: The Call Back
(Dialing, phone ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Concord Feminist Health Center.
CALLER: Hi. Could I talk to Karen, please?
CLINIC: Hold on please.
(pause)
CLINIC: Who’s calling, please?
CALLER: It’s Lisa.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on.
(short pause)
CLINIC: Okay Lisa, she’s actually busy with someone, but she did let me know sorta what was going on. And she said, you know, we’re not going to deny you any services or anything. So I can just go ahead and set up an appointment with you.
CALLER: Okay. Well, what was your name?
CLINIC: Jessica.
CALLER: Oh, okay. All right.
CLINIC: Do you want to go ahead and do that?
CALLER: Well, I’m just concerned because like my boyfriend and I were talking about all this, and we just want to make sure that he wouldn’t have to fill out any forms or anything or his name wouldn’t be on anything.
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. All right. So you’re sure nobody would know about him then?
CLINIC: About him?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: You mean like being reported for like statutory rape or anything?
CALLER: What?
CLINIC: Like what do you mean would know about him?
CALLER: Well, he said that he doesn’t want anyone to know about us.
CLINIC: Um-hmm, right. I see what you’re saying, yeah. No, we’re going to, you know, go about it in a confidential way. And we’ll sort of just talk about things when you come in. But we’re not going to release any information to anyone at this point at all.
CALLER: Well, would you ever have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: I don’t think so. You know, I don’t really know the details. Maybe Karen is better for you to speak to about this. She was the one who checked out the laws or whatever, so I don’t know. And she’s still talking with someone. So do you want to just try back again?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay. Sorry, Lisa.
CALLER: Oh, no problem.
CLINIC: All right. Bye.
TAPE – 769 Pt 4: The Call Back
(Dialing, busy signal)
(Dialing, busy signal)
(Dialing, busy signal)
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: (Unclear) Feminist Health Center. May I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wanting to talk to Karen.
CLINIC: Karen’s on another line right now. Do you want to wait or have her call you back? Or is there something I can help you with?
CALLER: Well, everyone was saying to talk to Karen.
CLINIC: I’m sorry?
CALLER: Everybody was saying to talk to Karen.
CLINIC: Okay. What’s your name?
CALLER: Lisa Carter.
CLINIC: Lisa Carter?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: And is it about an appointment that you have with us?
CALLER: Well, I had a question.
CLINIC: Do you have an appointment with us?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Oh, okay.
CALLER: I wanted to ask the question before I made an appointment.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Well, I can try and answer your question, if it’s something I can answer.
CALLER: Well, yesterday I asked a couple people, and they both said to talk to Karen.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Is it about finances?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. All right. Do you want to hold?
CALLER: It’s just about whether or not you would have to report my boyfriend.
CLINIC: Right. Okay, yeah. I think she was looking into that. So why don’t you hold on for just a minute.
CALLER: Okay.
(short pause)
CLINIC: Lisa?
CALLER: Uh-huh?
CLINIC: Hi. This is Jane again. I just talked to Karen for a second. She has to finish the appointment that she’s making on the other line.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: I don’t think we have a really clear-cut answer for you. You know, we are mandated to report if somebody is under 13. If you’re over 13 —
CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 19th.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. If you’re under 18, the way that the law is, it says that if you’re being sexually exploited and you’re under 18, then it’s reportable.
CALLER: But I’m not being exploited. I mean —
CLINIC: But the law may see it as — the fact that your boyfriend is older, that in and of itself, they might interpret that as exploitation. I will tell you that if you want to come in here and receive, you know, birth control services from us, and — the thing is, if you give us information — if you tell us anything — then we may end up having to report it, if you tell us anything about your relationship.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So if you just make an appointment —
CALLER: Well, does it matter what age I am?
CLINIC: I’m sorry?
CALLER: Does it matter what age I am?
CLINIC: No. As a minor you can receive birth control services, and you can also receive an abortion without parental consent.
CALLER: Oh. So if I don’t say anything about my boyfriend, it would be better?
CLINIC: If you really don’t want this reported. You’re very young, and he’s older. Are you feeling like this is completely voluntary?
CALLER: Yeah. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. He’s a great guy. He said he was going to take care of me forever. I mean, we’ll have a family later but just not right now.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. You think you might be pregnant now?
CALLER: Well, yeah. I haven’t had my period since January 3rd, and that’s why I think that I’m pregnant.
CLINIC: Okay. January 3rd. Let me just check the date. Are you on a cell phone?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: There’s weird sounds on your phone.
CALLER: I’m on a cordless.
CLINIC: You’re on a what?
CALLER: A cordless.
CLINIC: Oh. Okay, yeah. I think it’s just making some tinny noises. Okay. So it’s been about nine weeks since your last period. So if you’re wanting to have an abortion, that should happen pretty soon. Is there nobody in your family that you can tell about this?
CALLER: No. I mean, it’s just me and my mom and dad. And I can’t tell them at all. I mean, they know about my boyfriend, and they know we’re going out. I mean, he works with my dad. But they don’t know we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that, I don’t know what they would do. They’d be furious.
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: So they can’t find out at all.
CLINIC: Yeah. You know, I just want to say, I think it would be a really good idea if you would talk to somebody about this whole situation, maybe a counselor at school, somebody outside of your family.
CALLER: But if I don’t say anything about my boyfriend, you won’t report it?
CLINIC: That’s what I’m saying, is that if we aren’t aware — if the person that you talk with isn’t aware, there would still be concern about the fact that you’re young. You know, it’s kind of a gray area. I can’t give you an absolute answer one way or the other. It just depends on what’s — what we are confronted with when you come in. But definitely, if you need an abortion, we will give you an abortion.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And we have appointments a week from today, I believe. Let me just check and make sure of that. Have you not found out whether you’re pregnant or not yet?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: You haven’t had a test?
CALLER: I was wanting to come in and get one of those.
CLINIC: Okay. Can you come in say on Monday, Monday afternoon?
CALLER: Well, do you have hours tomorrow? Because my boyfriend doesn’t work on Saturdays.
CLINIC: You could do a home pregnancy test.
CALLER: Oh. Are those usually right though?
CLINIC: Yes, they are. If you get a positive result, we would accept the result of that, and just make an appointment based on that. So if you take one tomorrow morning and it’s positive, you could call tomorrow because there are people on the phone 8:30 to 4:30 tomorrow.
CALLER: Alright. Well, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control from you guys then?
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: But the thing is, I can’t drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to pick up the pills?
CLINIC: No. You would have to come in for a physical exam. When we prescribe the pill, we have to do a check-up first.
CALLER: Okay. But after that?
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: He could pick up the pills then?
CLINIC: Well, I mean, we don’t — where do you live?
CALLER: I live in Davisville.
CLINIC: Okay. We prescribe birth control pills, and we will give a couple of free packs at first, but we can’t keep on giving them out for free. We’re not a Planned Parenthood clinic. At Planned Parenthood clinics they can give them either for free or for very low cost because they get federal funding to provide low-cost services —
CALLER: So would it be better to go there?
CLINIC: — especially with teenagers. Yeah. For ongoing care, it’d be better to go to Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: But would they have to tell anybody about anything?
CLINIC: I don’t believe so.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: Again, I don’t want to tell you necessarily to withhold information, but that’s the situation you’re in. You know, this is a tough — you have to understand that from an adult perspective, looking at your situation, it doesn’t seem right. You know?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Because somebody your age, generally, it would be better for them to wait until they have a little bit better judgment about things. And sometimes a man who’s older can seem very kind and considerate of you, but —
CALLER: He’s wonderful.
CLINIC: Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: It’s a situation that arouses concern in adults when they see, you know, that kind of an age gap. So you might run into some questions. I don’t necessarily think that you would end up being reported, but there will be questions if people know.
CALLER: OH. Well, I’ve got to go. My friend’s mom is coming. I’ve got to go.
CLINIC: Okay. So go have a test and call us.
CALLER: Okay. Thank you. Bye.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
***END***
#609 – Planned Parenthood in Derry, NH
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
4 BIRCH ST.
DERRY, NH 03038-2136
603-434-1354
TAPE – 609
(Dialing, phone did not ring)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Erin (ph). How can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: We don’t. We can give you a few numbers to call though.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Where are you from?
CALLER: I live in Fremont.
CLINIC: In Fremont?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Where is that near?
CALLER: Well, it’s like 20 minutes away from you guys.
CLINIC: Okay. It’s south. Is that Fremont, Massachusetts or New Hampshire?
CALLER: It’s in New Hampshire.
CLINIC: Is that north? I don’t know my geography. Is that north or south of Barre?
CALLER: I think it’s northeast of you.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Okay. (laughing) Let’s see. We have a few numbers here. Okay. The Concord-Simmons (sp) Health Center in Concord might be fairly close to you. Their number is 225-2739.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And in Manchester, there’s Manchester Obstetric Associates. And that’s 622-3162. And in Portsmouth there’s the Portsmouth Feminist Health Center.
CALLER: That’s kind of long.
CLINIC: Is that far away?
CALLER: No, it’s just long to write.
CLINIC: Oh, it’s long to write. (laughs)
CALLER: So what was the number for that?
CLINIC: The number for them is 436-7588. And another one in Concord is Dr. Hamilton. And that’s 224-5017. And for Dr. Hamilton, when you call there’s not people there answering the phones. Basically what you have to do is leave a message, give your name and your phone number, and they call you back.
CALLER: Oh. Well, could I ask you a quick question then?
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: It’s just I’m worried because like I’ll 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: The only issue with that is — you don’t need parental consent because the state of New Hampshire doesn’t require it. If you went to Massachusetts, that’s a different story. They require parental consent, but in the state of New Hampshire they don’t. The fact that your boyfriend is 22 is an issue.
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: Because that’s basically illegal.
CALLER: Why is that illegal?
CLINIC: Because you’re a minor.
CALLER: But he’s not doing anything bad.
CLINIC: Is he the one that got you pregnant?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. It’s just we can’t have a baby right now.
CLINIC: Oh! No, I’m not judging you. I’m not judging you. Don’t worry about that. I’m just warning you.
CALLER: Oh. Well, what should I do then?
CLINIC: At that point, I’m not saying that, you know, he shouldn’t pay for it or whatever. Just be careful.
CALLER: Well, it’s just the thing is I’m scared because I haven’t had my period since like December 26th.
CLINIC: Oh, no. You should definitely make the phone call. Definitely make the phone call.
CALLER: Okay. Well, could I come in there for a pregnancy test to see if I was pregnant?
CLINIC: Oh, yeah. You could do that.
CALLER: Okay. But would you have to tell anybody about him if I came in there?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Really? Okay. So when do you guys normally do pregnancy tests there?
CLINIC: What do we do with pregnancy tests?
CALLER: When do you normally do them?
CLINIC: We have a walk-in on Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4:30 if you want to come in during that time. You can just walk in.
CALLER: All right. So if I wasn’t pregnant, would I be able to get birth control the same day?
CLINIC: Oh, yeah. Absolutely.
CALLER: Oh. But would you have to tell anybody if I was on birth control?
CLINIC: Nope.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Nope. That’s confidential.
CALLER: But you sure you wouldn’t have to tell anybody about my boyfriend if I came in?
CLINIC: It depends on — it’s a foggy issue.
CALLER: Well, I don’t want him to get in trouble.
CLINIC: I know. I know. Basically — it’s a touchy issue at that point.
CALLER: Okay. Well —
CLINIC: I wouldn’t necessarily — I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to tell you what to do about the whole situation.
CALLER: I just don’t know what to do.
CLINIC: I would just come in, take the test. If you’re not pregnant, we’ll put you on birth control, and I wouldn’t worry about it.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right. Well, he would have to take me. I mean, I wouldn’t have any other way to get there if he wasn’t there.
CLINIC: Okay. I wouldn’t worry about it. Don’t worry about it. Just come on in on Wednesday afternoon. I mean, we’re not going to sit down and ask you all about your life and your boyfriend and all that; you know what I mean?
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So don’t worry about it. Come on in.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: All right. Thanks.
CLINIC: You’re welcome.
CALLER: Bye.
CLINIC: Bye.
***END***
#682 – Feminist Health Center Of Portsmouth in Greenland, NH
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
FEMINIST HEALTH CENTER OF PORTSMOUTH
559 PORTSMOUTH AVE.
GREENLAND, NH 03840
603-436-7588
TAPE – 682
(dialing sound) (ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Good morning. Feminist Health Center.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: We do.
CALLER: Okay. Well, much does that cost?
CLINIC: Well, it depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
CALLER: Okay. Well, how do you know?
CLINIC: Well, do you know the first day of your last period?
CALLER: January 3.
CLINIC: And as far as you can remember was that a normal period for you?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Were you taking any birth control pills, depo provera, Norplant at the time?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: January 3. So that would put you right now at under 9 weeks.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So you would definitely be in a time that we could see you here.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Do you have insurance?
CALLER: Well, no, but my boyfriend said that he would pay for everything.
CLINIC: Okay. Well that’s, you know, between you and him.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: If you wanted to pay with a credit card, the cost for the procedure would be $425.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And if you wanted to pay with cash it would be $410.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? And then the only other cost that could be accrued by you — do you happen to know your blood type?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. We give you a finger prick while you’re here.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: What we’d be testing for is the positive or negative factor in your blood.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? And if you were negative you’d need an injection called Rogam (sp).
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? And that medication helps protect you from the buildup of antibodies in your blood which could attack a future pregnancy.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know, it’s just — the thing is I’m going to be 14 later on this month.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: And my friend said 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: The — in New Hampshire there is no parental consent laws.
CALLER: Okay. So it’s all right if he’s there with me and is paying for everything?
CLINIC: Yep. There is no parental consent laws in New Hampshire.
CALLER: Okay. All right. Well, do you guys do a pregnancy test there just to make sure?
CLINIC: Have you already had one?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay, that’s the first thing you want to do.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: We wouldn’t even set up an appointment until you take a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay. So do I come in there for that or —
CLINIC: No, you can just go get one that’s over the counter.
CALLER: Oh. Are those usually right though?
CLINIC: Yeah, they’re usually very accurate.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So you could do that. And, you know, then we could go from there.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: In terms of the procedure, have you gotten any information about that?
CALLER: Well, no, but my friend told me some stuff, so.
CLINIC: Okay. Did your friend have one here?
CALLER: Well, I don’t know. She just knows about it.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: But is there any way you think that I couldn’t, that I’m not pregnant?
CLINIC: Well, that’s what we need you to — I mean, there’s a million things that could be causing you not to get your period.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Obviously pregnancy would be the first thing that, you know, would be the most obvious.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? But, you know, that’s why we ask that you take a pregnancy test first.
CALLER: Okay. Well, me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t — it’s just, the thing is, we don’t want anyone to know about us. If we came in there, would you have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: Like who?
CALLER: I don’t know. Just anybody?
CLINIC: No. I mean, you know, as long as — you know. We strive for confidentiality here, so.
CALLER: Okay. Well, so if it turned out after the pregnancy test that I take, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant could I come to you guys to get like birth control?
CLINIC: Yeah, definitely.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Most definitely. I mean, we just need to make an appointment. You need to have, you know, a pap smear and stuff like that. But yeah, we could set up an appointment for you to come do that as well.
CALLER: How much does birth control cost?
CLINIC: Well, if you were — basically what we’d have to have you do is come in for a pap smear and a gynecological visit.
CALLER: How much does that cost?
CLINIC: That’s $73.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then you would also get a bill from the lab that processes your pap smear, and that would be, I think it’s around $28.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then after that, depending on what method of birth control you were thinking about, you discuss that with one of our counselors.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then, you know, we would write you a prescription or whatever needed to be done, depending on what you wanted. Did you have something that you’re leaning toward?
CALLER: I don’t know. I just don’t want my parents to find out. But me and my boyfriend just don’t want to go through all this again, so.
CLINIC: Right. Well, you would be able to, you know, discuss that with a counselor here what you wanted to do with the birth control at that point.
CALLER: Okay. But if he was — it’s just I can’t drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to — like if I’ve got pills, would my boyfriend be able to pick those up?
CLINIC: You’re not going to get them from us.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: You’re going to get a prescription.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So. But I would, you know, first figure out what’s going on with your — with the pregnancy test, and then, you know.
CALLER: Okay. So do the pregnancy tests and then call you back? What was your name?
CLINIC: My name’s Kristen.
CALLER: Okay. Thanks.
CLINIC: Okay. Yep. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#610 – Planned Parenthood in Keene, NH
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
29 CENTER ST.
KEENE, NH 03431-3351
603-352-6898
TAPE – 610
(Dialing, phone ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. This is Martha.
CALLER: Hi. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: We don’t do them at this site. We do have a Planned Parenthood in West Lebanon that offers that service. Is this for you?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. So do you know how far along you are?
CALLER: Well, no. I’m just worried because I haven’t had my period since like December 26th.
CLINIC: Okay. And have you done a pregnancy test?
CALLER: Well, no.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Could I come in there for that?
CLINIC: Yep. You could do that. I’m going to take a look at what we have early next week. Is there a day that’s better for you to come in next week?
CALLER: Well, I have to call my boyfriend to see. But 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: I think legally we would have to report it.
CALLER: Why?
CLINIC: It’s really just the New Hampshire state law. It’s a little confusing to me to be honest. But if you’re under 14 and you’re sexually active, supposedly that is reportable.
CALLER: Oh. Well, what would happen?
CLINIC: What would happen? I think that they would call the Department of Children and Families, and then they would try to contact you most likely.
CALLER: Well, I’ll be 14 on the 9th.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. On the 9th of what?
CALLER: Of this month.
CLINIC: Of this month?
CALLER: Yep.
CLINIC: Yeah. Well, you know, can you hold for a second? I’m just going to check on that.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Okay. So I just checked with one of the practitioners on what the state law is. So if you were to come in, I guess regardless of how old you are, because your partner is more than six years older than you, that is considered reportable by the state. So what would happen is what I told you, that we would contact the Department of Children and Families, and then we don’t know what would happen from there, really. I think they would try to contact you.
CALLER: Well, I don’t want anybody to get in trouble.
CLINIC: Right, right. I know. I don’t know what to say. I feel awful. That’s just the law, and that’s how it’s set up, that we have to do that.
CALLER: Well, what if he didn’t come with me?
CLINIC: Well, I would say if it didn’t come up that it would probably — I mean, if you didn’t mention that part, then we wouldn’t know that.
CALLER: Well, do I have to tell them who my boyfriend is?
CLINIC: I don’t think so.
CALLER: Oh. So I could come in for a pregnancy test and find out if I was pregnant or not?
CLINIC: Right. Yeah, we could do that. Now, you’re late for your period, right?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Or you could take a home pregnancy test if you want to try that first.
CALLER: Oh. Are those usually right though?
CLINIC: Yeah. They’re basically the same as the ones we’re going to do here. So if you’re late for a period, it’s going to show up on a pregnancy test by now.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Yeah, so I would try that first. And, you know, you can come in here to have a visit, talk about what your options are.
CALLER: Okay. Well, if turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Yep. Sure, we can do that.
CALLER: But would anybody have to know if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: I’m not sure what you mean.
CALLER: Well, would anybody have to know if I was like on birth control?
CLINIC: Because you’re 13?
CALLER: Well, yeah.
CLINIC: I don’t think they would be told that you were on birth control, but they would know if you had any sexual contact and you’re 13.
CALLER: Oh. So I can’t even get birth control then?
CLINIC: I would say if you’re going to turn 14 next Saturday to give us a call. And you’re welcome to come in. I’m just letting you know it would be reported. I don’t know what would happen from there. So you could come in for the pregnancy test and have the options discussed if it is positive, or we could talk about birth control.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Can you talk to your parents about this at all?
CALLER: No. I mean, they know my boyfriend but they just don’t like him because they think he’s too old for me. But they don’t know we’re having sex. I mean, if they found out about that I don’t know what they would do.
CLINIC: Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah.I’m not sure what else we can do. You can come in for the pregnancy test, and we can go from there. But I just need to let you know it would be reported. All righty?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Thank you.
CLINIC: You’re welcome.
CALLER: Bye.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
***END***