#562 – Planned Parenthood in Boston, MA
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1055 COMMONWEALTH AVE.
BOSTON, MA 2215-1001
617-616-1600
TAPE – 562
(dialing sounds) (ringing 2X)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
(Spanish interpretation)
If you are a patient of Planned Parenthood and having a medical emergency, please press 9. Listen carefully to the following options. For directions to the clinic, please press 2. For pill sale hours information, press 3. For medical abortion information, press 4. For HIV testing information, press 5. For pregnancy testing information, press 6. Please remain on the line and an appointment representative will be with you shortly. (music)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wondering, do you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: Okay. Well, how much does that cost?
CLINIC: If you’re in the first trimester it’s between $390 to $420.
CALLER: Okay. Well, how do you know what trimester you’re in?
CLINIC: Based on the first day of the last period you had.
CALLER: Oh. Well, that was like December 26.
CLINIC: So you’re still in the first trimester. Yeah, the surgical procedure is between $390 and $420.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is there any way that — like I’m just worried because like my friend told me — well I’m going to be 14 next month — and my friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents I’m getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: No. The thing is, (unclear). You need someone over the age of 18 (unclear) state of Massachusetts you need consent, which is basically permission. We’d need that permission from either a parent or you would need to go through the judicial system.
CALLER: How do you go through the judicial system?
CLINIC: You could make an appointment with us and then we can transfer you over to counseling and referral, and they can get a lawyer for you and walk you through what the whole process would be.
CALLER: How much does all that cost?
CLINIC: That’s free. That’s a free service.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, do they ever say no?
CLINIC: The judges?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Very unlikely, but it would be the counselor that would be able to prepare you for anything like that.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, I just haven’t had a pregnancy test yet. Could I come in there and get one?
CLINIC: Yeah, you can have it done. We do pregnancy testing here.
CALLER: But would you have to tell my parents about that though?
CLINIC: No, we don’t.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: Mondays and Fridays, 2:00 to 5:00 and Saturday 8:00 to 11:00.
CALLER: Okay. Well, does anybody have to know like — well — does anybody have to know at all about anything?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Yep.
CALLER: Would you have to tell anybody about that though?
CLINIC: No. We wouldn’t have to tell your parents about that either.
CALLER: How much does birth control cost?
CLINIC: Are you a high school student?
CALLER: Well, yeah, sort of. Well, not yet.
CLINIC: Not yet?
CALLER: I’m homeschooled actually.
CLINIC: Okay, all right. Then it would be a $5 visit because you’re a student.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And pills —
CALLER: Well, my boyfriend and I were talking about all this, and he said he would pay for everything. It’s just, we didn’t want anyone to know about us.
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: But if he was paying for everything, would he have to sign anything?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: No. He doesn’t sign anything. Do you want to speak with a counselor?
CALLER: Well, I don’t know. What was your name?
CLINIC: My name’s Diane.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: I think it might help because you have like a lot of different concerns.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: They might be able to help you out right now. Just hold on, okay?
CALLER: All right.
(music)
CLINIC: Hello?
CALLER: Hi.
CLINIC: Hi.
CALLER: I was talking to Diane, and she transferred me to you.
CLINIC: Okay. Could you hold on for one sec, please?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Thanks.
(music)
CLINIC: Hi. Okay. Sorry to keep you waiting.
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: Okay, my —
CALLER:What was your name?
CLINIC: Nina.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: And I’m the counselor, and I can help walk you through this process.
CALLER: Okay. It’s just, the reason why I’m worried about all this, like I was wanting to get an abortion, and my friend told me that since like I’m going to be 14 next month she said that you guys would have to tell my parents. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it and —
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: — you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: No. And your parents don’t have to know. This is what happens. Either one of your parents has to give you permission, or we can hook you up with a lawyer who will take you to court and a judge will give you permission.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Your boyfriend can’t do anything but pay for it.
CALLER: Oh. Well, my parents can’t find out about this at all. I mean, I don’t want to tell them to actually ask for permission, so —
CLINIC: Okay. So I will go through some paperwork with you, and we’ll hook you up with a lawyer, okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: My first question is, how old are you?
CALLER: I’m 13. I’ll be 14 next month.
CLINIC: Okay, and do you have an appointment for an abortion already?
CALLER: No. I just was wanting to get a pregnancy test just to make sure that I was pregnant.
CLINIC: Okay. How late is your period?
CALLER: Well, I haven’t had it since like December 26. So that’s why I’m really worried.
CLINIC: December 26 was your last period?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Are you sure?
CALLER: Uh-huh. It was just — it started right after Christmas so.
CLINIC: December 26, so now it’s — okay. Well, that puts you around 9 weeks pregnant.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is it possible that I’m not pregnant?
CLINIC: Probably not. I mean, you would have missed all of January and February.
CALLER: Oh. All right.
CLINIC: This is the situation.
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: I cannot hook you up with a lawyer until you have an appointment for an abortion.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So first you have to make an appointment for an abortion.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then you have to call back and get hooked up with a lawyer who will take you to court. Now if you get the judge’s permission then you can have the abortion.
CALLER: Does the judge ever not give permission?
CLINIC: Only not. The judge wants to basically know that you understand your decision. So unless you —
CALLER: Me and my boyfriend have been talking about this, I mean, like a lot.
CLINIC: How old’s your boyfriend?
CALLER: He’s 22.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. And what does he think about it?
CALLER: Well, we just can’t have a baby right now. I mean, we decided that an abortion would be the best thing to do.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Do your parents know that you have a 22-year-old boyfriend?
CALLER: Well, yeah. They know we’re going out, 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: Uh-huh. How long have you been with him for?
CALLER: About like a year.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. And have you wanted to have sex?
CALLER: Well, yeah.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Okay. You know, that’s a significant age difference.
CALLER: Well, what do you mean?
CLINIC: Are you in school? Well, I mean 21 is a lot older than 13 far as life experience.
CALLER: Okay. Well —
CLINIC: Do you go to school?
CALLER: I’m homeschooled.
CLINIC: You’re homeschooled?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay, and what town are you in?
CALLER: I’m in Spencer.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. You’re going to have to probably come into Boston, you know, to come to court.
CALLER: Yeah. Well, he said that he would drive me and take care of everything.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Okay. And what do you think your parents would respond if they knew? How do you think —
CALLER: I don’t know. They’d probably be like furious. I mean, they can’t find out at all. You guys wouldn’t tell them, would you?
CLINIC: No, we won’t tell them. I’m just asking you why you don’t want to tell them. I mean, it’s a big secret to be 13 and to have from your parents.
CALLER: Well, I mean, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what they would do if they found out. I just —
CLINIC: Have you ever talked about sex with your folks?
CALLER: Well, yeah.
CLINIC: Have you ever talked about if you got pregnant as a teenager what their feelings are? Do you know how they feel about abortion?
CALLER: Well, no. I mean, no. I don’t know.
CLINIC: Have you been using birth control?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: You’ve been having sex with this guy with no birth control?
CALLER: Well, yeah. That’s why we were wanting to come in and get birth control, just so that we don’t have to worry about all this anymore.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Have you heard of condoms?
CALLER: Well, yeah.
CLINIC: Condoms are always a good thing to use because they can protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: As well as pregnancy.
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Just from disease itself. Every time you have sex without a condom you’re risking your life to get, you know, any kind of a disease including possibly AIDS.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: So after you get this pregnancy settled, you need to get very serious about birth control and condoms.
CALLER: Okay. Okay. Well — so if I came in there for a pregnancy test would —
CLINIC: Well, you could just buy a pregnancy test and do it at home. Don’t you have a clinic out there in Spencer? I mean, Spencer is sort of far from Boston, isn’t it?
CALLER: Well, I just don’t want anyone to see me. But do you know if the ones in the store are usually right?
CLINIC: Yeah, they are.
CALLER: Oh, okay. So I should take one of those instead of coming in there?
CLINIC: Yeah. I think that would be a lot easier for you.
CALLER: Oh. But if it said that I wasn’t pregnant, I could come in there and get birth control and you still wouldn’t have to tell anybody anything?
CLINIC: Right. Yes.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But you are pregnant. I mean, it would be very unusual. How do your breasts feel?
CALLER: Fine.
CLINIC: They don’t feel any different?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Well, you probably are pregnant. The thing is this, that I want you to think about. If in fact the first day of your last period was December 25th?
CALLER: 26th.
CLINIC: If that is a fact, then you are almost 10 weeks pregnant, okay? And you want to have an abortion within the next two weeks to make your life much simpler.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? That means that when you hang up with me you need to go out and buy a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? And then you need to follow the directions and do it properly.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? When you get the results that confirm that you’re pregnant, you need to call back here, make an appointment for an abortion, and then ask to speak to a counselor.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Now, this should all be done by the end of the day today or tomorrow. I don’t know if the test is going to be first during the day or not. I don’t know what you’re buying. But if it’s not, then you can do it and be calling back here today. If it is, you should be calling back here by tomorrow. I won’t be here, but another counselor will be.
CALLER: Okay. Well, who should I ask for?
CLINIC: Ask for a counselor.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But first make your appointment. First ask for an appointment person, make your appointment. Tell them you’re a minor, you’re making an appointment for an abortion, and then you need to speak to a counselor.
CALLER: Okay. Okay.
CLINIC: And you need to have this whole process done by the end of tomorrow. And then we’re going to get you into court early next week and hopefully get you an abortion by Friday, otherwise early the next week.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Now let me ask you a question. How are you going to — what are you going to use as an excuse to come in for the abortion, because they only do abortions in the morning?
CALLER: Well, I could say I’m visiting my friend.
CLINIC: Well, how long do you think it’s going to take for you to get from Spencer to Boston?
CALLER: I don’t know — like maybe 30 minutes.
CLINIC: Isn’t Spencer out Route 2?
CALLER: My boyfriend drives. I mean, I don’t know. We just moved here.
CLINIC: It’s going to take you at least an hour.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So you’re going to have to leave your house 7:00 or 8:00 in the morning.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: How are you going to tell that to your parents without them noticing that that —
CALLER: Well, I could just tell them I’m going to visit my friend, and I do that all the time. I mean, they’d be like, all right.
CLINIC: On a school day you leave your house to visit a friend?
CALLER: Well, I’m homeschooled, so — so.
CLINIC: Right.
CALLER: We do it just whenever is best.
CLINIC: You don’t have like specific hours that you’re expected to be doing school stuff?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: When do you typically do it? I’m just — I just want to get a sense.
CALLER: Just whenever is best for us that day.
CLINIC: And who do you do it with — your mom or your dad?
CALLER: My mom. My dad works.
CLINIC: Uh-huh.
CALLER: But sometimes we do it at night if we have to. I mean, if we’re doing something — if I have something to do in the morning, then we’ll do it at night, or whatever.
CLINIC: You don’t think your mom will think it’s weird that you’re getting together with a school friend early in the morning on a school day?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. See, that’s —
CALLER: I mean, we do that all the time.
CLINIC: You meet kids at 8:00 in the morning all the time on school days?
CALLER: Yeah. I mean, I have a lot of friends that are homeschooled, and we’ll just go hang out and, you know. Especially if it’s nice outside in the morning.
CLINIC: Uh-huh.
CALLER: Like we’ll go to like museums or whatever and —
CLINIC: Okay. Well, just so you know, try to make an appointment for like 10:00 so you’ll have a little bit of leeway to get here. You need to look at a map so you have a realistic sense of how long it’s going to take you to get here.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You’re going to be driving in with traffic, so people coming in to Boston, so you have to assume it’s going to take at least an hour if not more.
CALLER: I gotta go. My friend’s mom is coming. I gotta go. Is that all right?
CLINIC: I guess so.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Call back by tomorrow.
CALLER: Okay. Bye.
CLINIC: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
TAPE – 562 Pt 2: The Call Back
(dialing sounds)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
(Spanish interpretation)
If you are a patient of Planned Parenthood and having a medical emergency, please press 9. Listen carefully to the following options. For directions to the clinic, please press 2. For pill sale hours information, press 3. For medical abortion information, press 4. For HIV testing information, press 5. For pregnancy testing information, press 6. Please remain on the line and an appointment representative will be with you shortly. (music)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. How many I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was talking to Nina.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Hang on one second.
(music)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood counseling and referral.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. Is this Dina or —
CLINIC: No, it’s Ruth. Can I help you?
CALLER: Well, I was wanting to talk to her. She — I had to hang up real quick.
CLINIC: Oh. You want to talk to Nina?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Just a second. Were you just talking with her?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Just a minute.
(music)
CLINIC: Hi. This is Nina.
CALLER: Hi.
CLINIC: Hi.
CALLER: I was calling back.
CLINIC: Okay, tell me your name?
CALLER: It’s Lisa.
CLINIC: Lisa. Lisa, tell me something. Is Spencer close to Worcester or Springfield?
CALLER: Well, I’m not really sure. I think it’s closest to Boston more than anyplace else.
CLINIC: Let me just look on this map for a minute and find Spencer. What’s the nearest town? What’s a neighboring town to Spencer?
CALLER: We just moved her. Like we just moved here. So I don’t really know.
CLINIC: Okay. You are closest to Worcester.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So you are going to get your abortion in Worcester.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You’re still going to call this number to make your appointment, and we will still help you get a lawyer. But you’re going to make your appointment for Worcester because that will be a lot closer to you than coming all the way in to Boston.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? I want to tell you a few more things that I want you to be thinking about, okay?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: After you have the abortion you’re going to have some bleeding for 10 days to two weeks, okay? You cannot use tampons. You have to use pads because you can’t risk getting an infection into your body. You’re also going to need to take an antibiotic, a prevention too.
CALLER: Okay. Where do I get that?
CLINIC: You’ll leave here with it.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Where are you going to get the money to pay for this abortion?
CALLER: Well, my boyfriend said that he would pay for everything.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. Does he know how much it costs?
CALLER: Well, that’s why he’s — but he has an idea, but —
CLINIC: What’s his idea?
CALLER: Like $500.
CLINIC: Yeah. It will be a little less than that.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But he can pay for the antibiotic also.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Now when you have the, afterward the bleeding and stuff, that’s often a place where, you know, your parents might, your mom might notice something’s up, so I’m just telling you this. It’s something to think about so that she won’t find out.
CALLER: All right. I could also say that I’m visiting a friend and go away for a little while.
CLINIC: You’re going to go away for 10 days?
CALLER: Well, I could. I just — I have a friend that lives in Concord, so I could go visit her for a little while.
CLINIC: Well, 10 days isn’t a little while.
CALLER: Well, I mean, I’ve done it before.
CLINIC: Well, you’ll have to make those decisions for yourself. I just think that —
CALLER: All right. So just make sure that, that —
CLINIC: I just want you to be aware of that.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: I mean, your friend’s mom could also become aware that you’re bleeding.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You know? It’s not like the friend’s mom lives in a — you know.
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: People are aware.
CALLER: Should I call the people at Worcester?
CLINIC: What?
CALLER: Should I call the people in Worcestershire?
CLINIC: Well, we, our office is the one who will hook you up with the lawyer. And our office will be able to — you can book appointments in Worcestershire? Right? Yeah. You have to call Worcestershire to book the abortion and then call us back to hook you up with the lawyer.
CALLER: Well, should I get a pregnancy test there?
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Get a pregnancy test first. You can just go to the pharmacy still and buy it.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay? Just go buy it and take it.
CALLER: Okay. Well —
CLINIC: If you want to go to Worcester to Planned Parenthood in Worcester you can call them and find out what their hours are.
CALLER: What’s their number?
CLINIC: One second. I’ll give it to you. Okay. It’s 508-854-3300. And let me give you an 800 number also. 800-539-2378.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know who I should ask for?
CLINIC: No. You should call and ask when you can walk in to take a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And you should —
CALLER: Do you know how much it would cost there?
CLINIC: Yes, it’s $10.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, would that be better then?
CLINIC: If it would make you feel better to walk in, take a test and have them tell you right then and there.
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Then that would be better.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: If you’re more comfortable with that.
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: You need to tell them where you are. You know, figure out how to get there.
CALLER: Okay. Well, Worcester’s real close, so, I think my boyfriend knows.
CLINIC: Uh-huh.
CALLER: So. But I have to call him to see when he can get off work to take me. But you sure Worcester’s real close to me, right?
CLINIC: Well, it’s closer than Boston.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Boston’s a good hour. Worcester’s going to be, it’s two towns away.
CALLER: Okay. All right. Okay, so —
CLINIC: You need to explain to your boyfriend that you have to hurry up, that you do not have all the time in the world because after 12.5 weeks it becomes a more involved procedure.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: And you don’t want to set yourself up for that.
CALLER: Okay. But I still need to go to Boston to see the lawyer?
CLINIC: No. Well, we’ll hook you up with a lawyer in Worcester now.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: So you’ll go to court in Worcester, you’ll get your abortion in Worcester. You’ll do it all in Worcester.
CALLER: Well, what if the judge says no?
CLINIC: Well, I don’t think that the judge will say no.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: What judge in their right mind thinks that a 13-year-old should be having a baby?
CALLER: Yeah. All right.
CLINIC: And God forbid if the judge said no, you’d have to tell your parents.
CALLER: Yeah. Okay.
CLINIC: You know, I really think that since you’re homeschooled you need to bring this up with your parents in some way. You need to talk about sex. You need to talk about abortion. You need to talk about sexually transmitted diseases. You’re not getting all that education that everybody else is getting in school.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: And you’re missing out on a lot. To be 13 and to be sexually active and already pregnant once is a really big deal.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You’re really high risk for a lot of abortions in your life if you don’t figure out a way to get this under control.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You need to get some serious birth control going in your life.
CALLER: Okay. All right.
CLINIC: I’m really serious. This is a big, big deal.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: It’s not like just you and your boyfriend got pregnant, oh so what. You know, he’s 21. He’s having sex with you without birth control. That is about as irresponsible as a person could be.
CALLER: Oh. All right.
CLINIC: Okay? You’re putting your health at risk and your whole self at risk.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So call Worcester now and see when you can walk in for a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then you need to make an abortion appointment, and then you need to call us back, and we’ll hook you up with a lawyer.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right. This is — time is important.
CALLER: Should I call and ask for you though?
CLINIC: No. I won’t be here after 12:00 today. It doesn’t matter who you ask for. Every counselor can help you with the lawyer.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Thank you.
CLINIC: Good luck. Bye bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#560 – Planned Parenthood in Springfield, MA
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
110 MAPLE ST. # 215
SPRINGFIELD, MA 1105-1857
413-732-1620
TAPE – 560
(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Western Massachusetts.
(Spanish interpretation)
If you know your party’s four-digit extension, you may dial it now or at any time during this message. For our department and staff directory, please press the pound key. Listen carefully to the following options. For directions to the clinic, press 2. To make an appointment, press 3. (dial sound) (music)
(ringing 2X)
RECORDING: All staff members are assisting other calls. Please remain on the line and your call will be answered in the order that it was received.
(ringing 6X)
RECORDING: All staff members are still assisting other calls. You may press 1 to leave a message and a staff member will return your call as soon as possible. If you remain on the line, your call will be answered. However, wait-times may exceed 10 minutes.
(ringing 6X)
CLINIC: Good morning. Planned Parenthood. How may I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wondering, do you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know how much that costs?
CLINIC: It depends on how far along you are.
CALLER: Oh. Well, how do you know?
CLINIC: Are you calling for yourself?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: What was the first day of your last normal period?
CALLER: December 26.
CLINIC: Was the first day?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. It’s how we usually determine it, and then at your appointment we would do an ultrasound.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But it looks like you’re about 9 weeks.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Does that seem right?
CALLER: Well, I guess.
CLINIC: Okay. (laughs)
CALLER: But do you know — I’m just really worried because like my friend told me that you guys would have to tell my parents. Because, well I’m going to be 14 next month, and she said that they would have to tell my parents I’m getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it, and you wouldn’t have to tell anybody?
CLINIC: No. It has to be a parent or a legal guardian. But there is a way to get around telling your parents.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: What you would have to do is, you would make an appointment, you’d come in here, and you’d meet with a counselor. She would tell you all about the procedure and tell you everything that you need to know. Then you would call the court in Springfield. You’d make an appointment with them. They’d find you a lawyer, and then you’d go in for an appointment. And basically you just go into a judge’s private chambers and just talk to them. And basically they want to make sure that you’re mature enough to make this decision. But they really never turn anyone away.
CALLER: Oh, really?
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: How much does it cost for the lawyer?
CLINIC: I believe it’s free.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: It is free.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then you would come back here. After you called to the court we would make an appointment here, and then you’d come back with the papers.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: And it’s $390 for the procedure.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then you can get a pill to relax you if you’re feeling very nervous, and there’s a pill that’s $10. Or you can get an IV where a needle would be put into your arm, and that is $30.
CALLER: Okay. Well, my boyfriend said that he would pay for everything.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: I mean, when we were talking about all this we just decided that we didn’t want a whole bunch of people to know about us. But if he was paying for it, would he have to sign for anything?
CLINIC: Only if he used a credit card.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: But if you pay with cash, then it’s — no, there wouldn’t be anything.
CALLER: So would it be all right if he was there with me?
CLINIC: Yeah. You can bring one person with you as long as you don’t bring like any children into the clinic.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: You’d be here for about three to four hours for the actual appointment. There was something else…
CALLER: Do you know if there would be any way that I wasn’t pregnant? Like I just don’t know, and I’m just worried because I haven’t had my period since like Christmas.
CLINIC: Okay. Then you should have a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Well, do you guys do that there?
CLINIC: Um-hum.
CALLER: How much does that cost?
CLINIC: $10.
CALLER: Oh, okay. Well, when do you guys normally do that?
CLINIC: In the afternoon.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Do you want to make an appointment for that?
CALLER: Well, I’d have to call my boyfriend to see if he can get off work. I don’t know if we could come in today. Do you guys do it any other —
CLINIC: Yeah. Actually tomorrow afternoon would be best.
CALLER: Okay. Well, let me call him and see. But if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: Okay. Well, would you have to tell anybody if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: Not at all. Everything’s confidential here. We would not contact your parents.
CALLER: It’s just, we don’t have to worry, we don’t want to have to worry about all this.
CLINIC: I totally understand that.
CALLER: Okay. So you wouldn’t — I just don’t want — you sure you wouldn’t have to tell anybody at all?
CLINIC: No. My only concern is that he’s that much older than you.
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: I mean —
CALLER: Is that bad?
CLINIC: You’re 13?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, let me check with somebody actually. Hold on for a second. I’ll finish my sentence in one second.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on.
(pause)
CLINIC: Thanks for holding.
CALLER: Hi.
CLINIC: Okay. So I just put in a call to somebody who can get back to me. What I was going to say was that my only concern is that there might — you might have to — we might have to legally report something or other. But —
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: Well, there’s — do you know about statutory rape? Like —
CALLER: No. My boyfriend’s not raping me. I mean, we’re in love. We’re going to get married. He said he was going to take care of me forever.
CLINIC: No, no. No, no, no. I’m not assuming that. (laughs) It’s not me. But there are laws. So I just wanted to find out because our policy is confidentiality, and you can do whatever you want, and we make no judgment calls. But then there are certain things that we have to do if the law says that we have to. My guess is that we wouldn’t have to make any sort of call on that.
CALLER: Would it be better if he wasn’t there and I didn’t say anything about him?
CLINIC: Not necessarily. Can we leave it that I’ll call you if there is any sort of issue with that?
CALLER: Well, I’m at my friend’s house, and her mom would answer the phone. She doesn’t know.
CLINIC: Okay. Does your boyfriend have like a phone number or a cellphone or anything?
CALLER: He just got a cellphone, but I don’t know the number yet. He was wanting to let you guys have that number. That’s why he got it. But.
CLINIC: Okay. Well then —
CALLER: Is it okay if I just call you back?
CLINIC: That would be fine.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And I don’t mean to alarm you at all. I just wanted to check out all the facts before I give you an answer.
CALLER: Okay. So what’s your name so that I can call you back?
CLINIC: Well, you can talk to anyone who answers the phone.
CALLER: Well, I just was wanting to — well, you said that you were going to call people, and I wanted to talk to you. Would you have to tell everybody there about all this?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: What was your name?
CLINIC: My name’s Michelle.
CALLER: Okay. So is it all right if I call you back? How long do you think it would take for you to get them to call you back?
CLINIC: I’m not exactly sure.
CALLER: Oh. Well —
CLINIC: I would say sometime this afternoon.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right.
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
TAPE – 560 Pt 2: The Call Back
(dialing sound) (ringing 1X)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Western Massachusetts. (dial sound)
(ringing 2X)
RECORDING: All staff members are assisting other calls. Please remain on the line and your call will be answered in the order that it was received.
(ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Good afternoon. Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: Hi. Can I talk to Michelle?
CLINIC: May I ask who’s calling?
CALLER: It’s Lisa.
CLINIC: It’s who?
CALLER: Lisa.
CLINIC: Is she expecting your call?
CALLER: Well, she said to call her back.
CLINIC: Hold on one second.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hi. This is Michelle.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was talking to you yesterday, and you said you had to call some people to —
CLINIC: Oh, yes. Are you the 13-year-old?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Is that right? Okay. Yeah. So I spoke with somebody, and basically I just wanted to be sure. I didn’t mean to startle you in any way. I basically wanted to be sure that it was nothing that we had to report, and it’s not unless there are, you know, rare circumstances. I mean, everything here is confidential. We’re not going to report it anyone. We’re not going to get you in trouble in any way. But if your parents were to find out, you know, he could be put in jail basically is the concern. It is considered statutory rape.
CALLER: But you wouldn’t tell anybody about him?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: We here won’t. But I just wanted to double-check on policies about that.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: So no worries, and (laughs) you know, you can come in and we can set you up for the court counseling and pregnancy test and what not.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You haven’t made an appointment yet, have you?
CALLER: Well, no. I was wanting to call my boyfriend and tell him what you said. But —
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: — I’ll call him and call you back. Is that all right?
CLINIC: Sure. And you don’t have to ask for me.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: You can talk to the person who answers the phone, because they’ll be able to schedule you an appointment.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: Yep. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#561 – Planned Parenthood in Worcester, MA
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
631 LINCOLN ST.
WORCESTER, MA 1605-2010
508-854-3300
TAPE – 561
(dialing sounds) (ringing 2X)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood Worcester. If you know your party’s four-digit extension you may dial it now or at any time during this message. For our staff directory, please press the pound key. If you are a patient of Planned Parenthood and are having a medical emergency, please press 9. Listen carefully to the following options. To make an appointment, press 2. (dial sound) — and pregnancy information press 3. (dial sound) (music)
(ringing 1X)
CLINIC: How can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wondering, do you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: Yes, we do.
CALLER: Oh. Well, how much does that cost?
CLINIC: It depends on how far along you are. Have you had a positive pregnancy test?
CALLER: Well, no. I’m just really worried about all this because I haven’t had my period since like December 26, and I’m scared.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, we do offer pregnancy tests. They’re $10. We can do them any time before 5:00 today or any time — we stop doing them an hour before we close every day. So you could come in any day and get a pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay. Well, it’s just the thing is like, my friend told me that since like — well I’ll be 14 next month — 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: No. Unfortunately because of the law you’re going to have to — you can come in for a pregnancy test which would start off the whole process.
CALLER: Well, does anybody have to know about the pregnancy test?
CLINIC: You know, I’m not sure about that. Can I put you on hold a moment?
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Hey. Are you still there?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah, I’m here.
CLINIC: Okay. We don’t have to tell your parents about the pregnancy test, and we also don’t have to, by law don’t have to release that information to them.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So my recommendation would be to come in and get a pregnancy test and like I say you can do that any time. And then once you come in we can also talk to you about, you know, maybe talking to your parents or possibly getting judicial consent which would mean that they wouldn’t — you’d have to go before a judge with a lawyer, and then —
CALLER: How much does a lawyer cost?
CLINIC: You know, that I don’t know. I think that we have the number to find out about that. Do you want me to put you on hold and I can find out?
CALLER: Well, okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on.
(pause)
CLINIC: You there?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: I’m sorry to keep you holding. Our Boston office, we have an 800 number there. They can tell you how to get in contact with a lawyer to do the judicial consent.
CALLER: Okay. What’s the 800 number?
CLINIC: It’s 1-800-682-9218.
CALLER: Okay. Well —
CLINIC: But really you need to have a positive pregnancy test first.
CALLER: Okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant, could I come in there and get birth control?
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: (consulting) We’re going to check on that. Can you hold another moment?
CALLER: All right.
(pause)
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: I’m so sorry. You don’t. Your parents don’t have to know about the birth control.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: The only thing by law that we have to do —
CALLER: It’s just we don’t want to have to go through all this again, so.
CLINIC: Yep. Yep. The only thing by law we have to tell them is about an abortion.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So that’s the only thing that you would — you know, possibly you have to get a judicial consent or tell them about. The birth control and seeing —
CALLER: So if I came in for a pregnancy test, would it be all right if my boyfriend was there with me?
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: I mean, he’d be the only way I could get there.
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: It’s just —
CLINIC: We do have a waiting room. You’d have to see the nurse or the counselor by yourself.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And that, you know, is not painful obviously.
CALLER: Okay. It’s just me and my boyfriend were talking about all this, and we don’t want anyone to know about us. If he was paying for everything, would he have to sign anything?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Nope. And — I forgot what I was going to say.
CALLER: Well, how much does a pregnancy test cost?
CLINIC: A pregnancy test is $10.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: However, our — we call them a HOPE visit, women would like to get on birth control. That costs $40.
CALLER: Okay. Well, how much does an abortion cost?
CLINIC: An abortion costs a minimum of $390, and it can go all the way up to $890.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So it is quite expensive.
CALLER: So if I was pregnant, how much do you think that I would have to pay?
CLINIC: You know what? Actually if you’re a high school student, the HOPE visit to get on birth control would only be $5.
CALLER: Oh. Well –
CLINIC: But the abortions are still the same price, between $390 and $890, depending on how along you are.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And then birth control pills are $15 a monthly pack.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is it all right — the thing is, I’m not old enough to drive yet. Would my boyfriend be able to pick them up?
CLINIC: He would, but you’d have to come in for the visit first.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Because we like to do — we like to take blood pressure and talk to you about how to take them and what to do and stuff like that.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So it would best if you came in.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And if you’d like to —
CALLER: Let me call him and see when he has time off work.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Could I call you and talk to you if I had any other questions? What’s your name?
CLINIC: Certainly. My name is Kelly.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And when you call we can also if you’d like to do the HOPE visit at the same time we can make an appointment for that.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: So that you can do the pregnancy test and possibly the HOPE visit at the same time.
CALLER: Okay. So how much does — how much should we bring then?
CLINIC: You’re going to want to bring $10 for the pregnancy test, $5 for a HOPE visit if you’re positive that you’re not pregnant.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And — actually, you know what? I think the pregnancy test takes — let me find out how long the pregnancy takes. Can you hold a moment?
CALLER: Oh, yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Sorry about that. The pregnancy test we can do the same day. If you’d like to wait, sometimes they’ll do the HOPE visit as well.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: You probably want to bring — let’s see here. It’s $10, $15, $30 — at least $40.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: But like I said, call him, find out when he can bring you, and then give us a call back and we’ll let you know. Okay?
CALLER: Okay. And you’re sure that nobody has to know about any of this?
CLINIC: Nobody has to know. It’s completely confidential.
CALLER: All right. Okay. Thanks.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay. So I’ll call back.
CLINIC: Call if you have any more questions, too. Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay.
CALLER: Thank you.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***