#614 – Planned Parenthood in New London, CT
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Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
45 FRANKLIN ST.
NEW LONDON, CT 6320-5920
860-443-5820
TAPE – 614
(Dialing, phone ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Could you please hold?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Thank you.
(pause)
CLINIC: Thank you for waiting. Can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was actually calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: We don’t do abortions at this site. The nearest site would be the Norwich Planned Parenthood office.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Their phone number is 889-5211.
CALLER: 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 everything, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: That’s where we get in a problem.
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: Since there is that big of an age difference we would need to report it —
CALLER: To who?
CLINIC: — to the state of Connecticut.
CALLER: Well, what could happen?
CLINIC: Because you are a minor and he is older than 18, that’s called statutory rape.
CALLER: But he’s not raping me.
CLINIC: I know. I know.
CALLER: We’re in love. We’re going to get married.
CLINIC: I know. If you do not give us that information — when you go over to Norwich you’re going to want to give them a call. Don’t tell them that information, okay?
CALLER: And then it will be okay?
CLINIC: If you do not say the age of your partner.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? Otherwise there’s going to be a lot of stuff going on that you’re probably not going to want to have happen.
CALLER: Well, do my parents have to know about the abortion though?
CLINIC: I don’t believe so. When is your birthday?
CALLER: It’s March 9th.
CLINIC: Okay. Like I said, give Norwich a call. And just tell them your age. Do not talk about your partner. Tell them your age and ask them if anything’s going to happen.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: But I don’t think it should.
CALLER: The main reason why I’m worried about all this is because I haven’t had my period since December 26th, and I’m just really scared.
CLINIC: Okay. Have you taken a pregnancy test yet?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. Are you able to come down to our clinic and we can run one for you?
CALLER: Well, what time?
CLINIC: Can you come in before 3:00 today?
CALLER: I think so. I’d have to call my boyfriend and see though. He’s just the only way I’d be able to get there.
CLINIC: Okay. Today before 3:00 or Monday between 9 and 6.
CALLER: Okay. Well, if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control the same day?
CLINIC: Not the same day. We’d have to set up a time for an exam, a pap smear, pelvic exam and all that. It’s called an annual visit to make sure that you are a good candidate for the birth control method that you want. So you can set that up when you come in.
CALLER: But would anyone have to know if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: Nope.
CALLER: Really?
CLINIC: Really. Nope. Everything would be confidential.
CALLER: Do I need to call and get an appointment?
CLINIC: No. For the pregnancy test you can walk in before 3:00 or today or on Monday between 9 and 6.
CALLER: All right. Well, if I had any other questions, could I call and talk to you? What was your name?
CLINIC: Absolutely. My name is Sarah (sp).
CALLER: All right. Thank you.
CLINIC: Thanks. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***
#43 – Planned Parenthood in Norwalk, CT
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Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
50 WASHINGTON ST FL 3
NORWALK, CT 6854-2749
203-853-2605
TAPE – 43
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: Hi. I was wondering, do you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: No, not here, hon. What we do is the pre-workup (unclear) indicated. And we refer you out either to our Stanford office or our New Haven office.
CALLER: Okay. What would I do there? Like…
CLINIC: You would get a full exam if you haven’t one within a year.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Did you wish to schedule an appointment?
CALLER: Well, I’d have to talk to my boyfriend to see —
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: — when he can get off. But can I ask a question?
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: My friend told me that you guys have to tell my parents if I’m going to have an abortion. Is that true?
CLINIC: That we do tell your parents?
CALLER: Yeah. Do you have to tell them? Do they have to know?
CLINIC: No. We never tell parents anything. That would be entirely up to you.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: That’s providing you’re not using your parents’ insurance. I mean, I don’t know the circumstances.
CALLER: Oh well, my boyfriend will pay for everything. But I just can’t tell them.
CLINIC: Okay. It’s strictly confidential with our agency.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: No, we don’t breach any confidentiality.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: They just can’t find out because, like, he’s 22. And we’re planing on getting married. We love each other and everything. But my parents absolutely hate him. They say he’s too old for me. I’m like, whatever but…
CLINIC: As I said, we’re strictly confidential.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: We do not get involved on that part of the communication that probably will take place, depending on your circumstances. Because we don’t know his circumstances. However, that would be something you would need to discuss with your parents. Okay?
CALLER: Well, I just can’t talk to them.
CLINIC: (Laughing)
CALLER: Like —
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: — do you know —
CLINIC: Okay, go ahead.
CALLER: Do you know like —
CLINIC: Do you want to know the price? Is that what you’re trying to ask me?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Starting price for an abortion with local anesthesia is $415.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: That does not include the exam. Hold on.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Okay. I’m back. All right? That goes up to maybe 10 weeks pregnant. Anything beyond that point, the price starts going — anything beyond 12 weeks pregnant would be considered the first trimester. The price then starts going up $100 per.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Anything beyond 14 weeks, it will be $715, starting price.
CALLER: Oh. Okay. Is there like an age limit or an age requirement for getting my test or anything?
CLINIC: I’m not understanding your question, hon.
CALLER: Well, I’m going to be 14 in March. Is that too young or anything?
CLINIC: (Another clinic worker) Hi, this is Michele.
CALLER: Hi.
CLINIC: (First clinic worker talking to co-worker) I’m sorry. I’m on line one. (Returning to the caller) Okay. Go ahead. Did you say you’re going to be 14 years old?
CALLER: Uh-huh, in March.
CLINIC: Okay. And you want to do what now? I’m not understanding you.
CALLER: Well, there’s not like an age —
CLINIC: We have no age group. If you schedule the appointment on your own, you will get counseling — birth control counseling, options counseling, if you come in for the examination.
CALLER: Okay. Would anyone — like, if I got birth control, would anyone have to know?
CLINIC: No one is going to know unless you tell them.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And it depends on what birth control option you would choose.
CALLER: Can I call you back?
CLINIC: What’s your first name?
CALLER: My name is Christine.
CLINIC: Christine? Okay, Christine.
CALLER: What was your name?
CLINIC: My name is Evelyn.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay. Thanks.
CLINIC: All right. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***
#615 – Planned Parenthood in Norwich, CT
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Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
12 CASE ST. # 213
NORWICH, CT 6360-2222
860-889-5211
TAPE – 615
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: Yep.
CALLER: Okay. Well, how much does that cost?
CLINIC: It depends. The offer with a local anesthetic, which is 415, and with the sedation to help you relax and help with the pains in the procedure is 515.
CALLER: Okay. 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: We won’t tell your parents.
CALLER: Okay. But would you tell anybody besides my parent?
CLINIC: Huh? Nope. It’s confidential. You can come in, and you don’t need a parent’s permission.
CALLER: Oh, okay. My boyfriend said that he would pay for everything. Would that be all right? It’s just we don’t want a whole bunch of people to know about us. Would he have to sign anything?
CLINIC: Yeah, but just don’t talk about his age.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay. But he could pay for it, and that would be okay?
CLINIC: Yeah, he could pay for it. You’re not being forced into anything?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Do you need to make an appointment or do you want to give us a call back?
CALLER: Well, I’d have to call him and see. The main reason why I’m worried about all this is because I haven’t had my period since December 26th, and I’m just really worried.
CLINIC: Did you do a pregnancy test already?
CALLER: Well, no.
CLINIC: First go ahead and do a pregnancy test. If you want, we do walk-in pregnancy tests here. You could come in here and do a pregnancy test if you’d like.
CALLER: What time?
CLINIC: Before quarter of 4.
CALLER: Oh, okay. So if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Um-hmm.
CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody that I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: Nope.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Could I get it the same day that I come in?
CLINIC: Yep.
CALLER: Oh, okay. The thing is, I’m not old enough to drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to pick up the pills?
CLINIC: Yeah. When you call and order them just let somebody know that he’s picking them up for you.
CALLER: Oh, okay. All right. I just have a whole bunch of questions I can’t think of right now. If I thought of something could I call and talk to you? What was your name?
CLINIC: You can call and talk to anybody. Everybody knows all the information that you’ll need.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, you were just so nice. I would rather just talk to you.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on one second.
(pause)
CLINIC: Okay. Thanks for holding. Do you have any more questions?
CALLER: Well, I don’t know. I’m just really worried and scared. I don’t know what to ask. How much does the pregnancy test cost?
CLINIC: The pregnancy test, if you do a walk, it’s 15.
CALLER: Well, if I wasn’t pregnant, how much does the birth control cost?
CLINIC: We go by a sliding scale depending no your income. Are you a student?
CALLER: Well, I’m homeschooled, and I don’t have any income.
CLINIC: Okay. So you would be on the lowest scale, and your pills would probably be $16 a pack.
CALLER: Well, if I got an abortion, how much would that cost?
CLINIC: 515 with the sedation.
CALLER: How much money should my boyfriend bring today if we came in.
CLINIC: If you came in for a pregnancy test, bring in the 15 with you for that. And if you want to get any birth control, then it’s going to be $16 a pack for pills. So you can just come in before quarter of 3, okay?
CALLER: Okay. Well, how much is in a birth control pack?
CLINIC: It’s for one month.
CALLER: Oh, okay. All right. If I had any other questions, could I call you back?
CLINIC: Yep. You can just call anybody here. I’m not going to give out my name. We don’t give out our staff name unless it’s somebody that we know.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So you can just give a call and talk to anybody.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: So if I was there like my a quarter to 3, that would be enough time to do everything?
CLINIC: We close at quarter of 3, so you have to be here by 2:30 if you’re going to get anything done today. Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: We’ll see you in a little while if you come in, okay?
CALLER: Okay. Thank you.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
***END***
#35 – Planned Parenthood in Old Saybrook, CT
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Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
263 MAIN ST. # 203
OLD SAYBROOK, CT 6475-2326
860-388-4459
TAPE – 35
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: Hi. I was wondering, do you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: No, we don’t. Planned Parenthood does them at four centers– Hartford, New Haven, Norwich and Stanford. But generally, you need to come here first for your pre-abortion exam if you’re planning on having one. You need an exam done first. Certain tests need to be done, and we need to do a pelvic sizing.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And you come here for that, and then go to the abortion center for your procedure.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Do you want to set up an appointment for that?
CALLER: I don’t know. I’d have to talk to my boyfriend about it.
CLINIC: Okay. All right. Are you sure you’re pregnant?
CALLER: Well, I’m pretty sure.
CLINIC: Have you done a home test?
CALLER: Yeah, I did one over the weekend, and it said it was positive.
CLINIC: How late is your period?
CALLER: Well, I’m not real sure.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, it’s important for you to understand that if you are pregnant, the sooner you get to us the better. That gives you usually more options for procedures that you can have done. And it’s just easier, safer and less expensive if you have your procedure done on the early side rather than the late. So time is an issue. So as soon as you talk to him, you should want to get someplace to call and set up an appointment.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: I think my last period was before Christmas or so. It’s probably like maybe the first week in December.
CLINIC: The first week in December?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Well, this is just rough. And the only way to know for sure is to do a pelvic sizing. But the first week in December, you’re probably somewhere eight or nine weeks. Because a pregnancy is not measured from the date you actually become pregnant; it’s measured from the first day of your last normal period. So that’s an important thing that a lot of people don’t understand. So if it was the first day —
(Beep sound; call disconnected)
(Dialing, phone did not ring)
CLINIC: Good afternoon, Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: Hi. Was I just talking to you?
CLINIC: No, you were talking to somebody else. But she’s gone now, so now I’m the only one here to talk to.
CALLER: The phone went dead. It was like loud, God.
CLINIC: I know you were talking about you’re pregnant.
CALLER: Yeah. I was wanting to get an abortion, and I was asking questions about it. We were talking about when my last period was.
CLINIC: And when was it?
CALLER: I’m pretty sure it was the first week in December.
CLINIC: So even if I say it was December 1st, you’re like almost 10 weeks. You’re between 9 and 10 weeks right now.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So depending on what you want to do, I wouldn’t want too long. If you definitely want to have an abortion, you should act pretty quickly. Because the prices change the longer — less than 12 weeks is cheaper than 12 to 14 weeks by $200.
CALLER: Well, how much is it like —
CLINIC: Like $415 less than 12 weeks. Have you ever had one before?
CALLER: No. My friend told me that I have to tell my parents before I can go through with it. Is that true?
CLINIC: No, that’s not true.
CALLER: I don’t have to tell anyone at all?
CLINIC: No, you don’t. It’s not required to tell — it’s not something you have to tell you parents in Connecticut. It’s something that you may want to tell them so they can support you and help you with all this.
CALLER: I can’t tell my parents at all.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, then you don’t have to. Do you have a way of getting to the — how old are you?
CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. So you’re 13 now?
CALLER: Yes.
CLINIC: You may have to tell your parents.
CALLER: Really?
CLINIC: I don’t think you do, but —
CALLER: Because I can’t tell my parents. My boyfriend’s 22, and we’re planning to get married. But they hate him, and they think he’s too old for me. But there’s no way they can find out that we’re having sex. I would get in big trouble.
CLINIC: Yeah, because actually he can be arrested and go to jail.
CALLER: What?
CLINIC: Because you’re a minor. I mean, he’s having sex with — I really have to tell you this. He’s having sex with someone who’s under 16, and he’s much older. And if it’s two years difference in age, he can be arrested for rape.
CALLER: But we’re in love. We’re getting married.
CLINIC: Yeah, but that’s the law in Connecticut because the age difference is really big between the two of you. I mean, it’s the law. I’m just telling you what the law is, just so you know. And he should know that too.
CALLER: What can happen to him?
CLINIC: He can literally go to jail. He can be arrested for rape because it’s a law in Connecticut. If someone’s having sex with someone who’s under 16, and the age difference is greater than two years, then it’s against the law.
CALLER: Okay. What can I do?
CLINIC: Where do you live?
CALLER: I live in Hamburg.
CLINIC: In Hamburg?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: Why don’t you call Norwich Planned Parenthood. And don’t tell them how old your partner is, just because I’m not sure what they have to do. Tell them that you’re 13, and just tell them that you’re pregnant and you want an abortion. And I think that at this point they will probably — I think you may just be able to go in for a one-day thing. Because tell them also how far along you are, and see what they tell you. And if you have to call back here to have a sizing, we can do that. Otherwise, you can just call us up and schedule that and then go to Norwich.
CALLER: And you still wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: No. I don’t think so, but they’ll tell you. I mean, you can ask them if you have to tell your parents. Because see, they do them at their office, and we don’t here. That’s why I’m not a hundred percent sure. But I definitely know the situation between the age difference of you and your boyfriend. So I wouldn’t mention that at this point. I would just say that you’re your age, and you’re pregnant, and do you have to tell your parents.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And let me give you their number so you can call them right now.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: They may be closed for a meeting, but I think they’re probably open. Their number is 889-5211. Give me a call back if you want to.
CALLER: What was your name?
CLINIC: My name is Susan.
CALLER: Susan?
CLINIC: So you can call and ask for me if you want to talk to me.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And otherwise call Norwich and see what they say. And just say do you have to tell your parents. I don’t think you do.
CALLER: Say I’m not pregnant, like I did the test weird or something?
CLINIC: Did you do it? Oh, okay.
CALLER: I thought I did it right. But what if I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control or whatever?
CLINIC: Absolutely.
CALLER: And no one would have to know or anything?
CLINIC: No. You don’t have to tell your parents that.
CALLER: Okay. Not anybody?
CLINIC: Even if you are pregnant and have the abortion, you’d get birth control right afterwards. They tell you how to start it right then, so you wouldn’t have to worry about this situation.
CALLER: And they wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: No, you don’t have to tell your parents, not for birth control in Connecticut.
CALLER: Anybody at all?
CLINIC: Any age. Yeah, we have patients that are your age, and you don’t have to tell.
CALLER: But they wouldn’t have to tell anybody like even —
CLINIC: Like who?
CALLER: Like besides my parents or anything?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Not at all?
CLINIC: It would depend on who you told. Because sometimes people come in here and say, you’re not going to tell anybody that I’m here, right? We don’t tell anybody that you’re here. But if you tell five of your friends, one of them might blab. That’s how the word gets out. Believe me. It never gets out from us ever. Even if you come here and you know someone, we can’t talk about anybody outside of this office. Okay? And we don’t really. We really, really don’t. That’s why we want people to come because our services are confidential. Even if your parents call here asking information, saying I know she came there, we don’t give any information out at all.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And that’s true of all the Planned Parenthoods.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So call Norwich and see what they say, and then you can call me back if you’re having a problem, okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right.
CALLER: Thank you.
CLINIC: Yep. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***
#731 – Planned Parenthood in Shelton, CT
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
415 HOWE AVE # 22
SHELTON, CT 6484-3174
203-924-7756
TAPE – 731
(Dialing, phone ringing)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood (male voice).
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was calling to see if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: No, we don’t. Our New Haven facility does.
CALLER: The where?
CLINIC: New Haven.
CALLER: Do you have the number for that?
CLINIC: 637-3131.
CALLER: 3131?
CLINIC: Um-hmm.
CALLER: Okay. Well, I was actually wondering if — the thing is, I’m going to be 14 later on this month. And my friend said that they 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 really don’t know that. You have to ask them that. But I think they do have to tell.
CALLER: They don’t tell?
CLINIC: They do have to tell because you’re 14.
CALLER: Oh. Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Do you know if I could come in where you’re at and get a pregnancy test though?
CLINIC: Yeah. Have you done one at home yet?
CALLER: Well, no. I didn’t know that the ones that you take at home were normally right.
CLINIC: Yeah. When can you come in?
CALLER: Well, when do you guys normally do it?
CLINIC: Can you come in today?
CALLER: Well, I’d have to call my boyfriend and see. But what are your hours today?
CLINIC: You have to get here before 3:00.
CALLER: 3:00? Do you do them any other day?
CLINIC: Yeah. We do them tomorrow. We’re here from 12 to 6 tomorrow.
CALLER: Okay. But would anybody have to know if I was getting a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, how much does it cost for that?
CLINIC: There’s no charge.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Yeah, but not the same day. You have to make an appointment when you leave.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, would anybody have to know if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. It’s just, me and my boyfriend don’t want to have to worry about all this anymore.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: So let me call him and call you back. What was your name?
CLINIC: Jody, J-o-d-y.
CALLER: Okay. Thank you.
CLINIC: Okay. Bye bye.
***END***