#246 – Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, MN
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1700 RICE ST. L
ST. PAUL, MN 55113-6812
651-489-1328
TAPE – 246
(dialing sound) (ringing 2X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood. Rice Street.
CALLER: Hi. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: No. At our Highland Park Clinic.
CALLER: Okay. Do you have the number for that?
CLINIC: Yep. Area code 651-698-2406. And they typically answer their phones between 9:00 and 4:00.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know if — like I’ll be 14 in March. But do you know if they would have to tell my parents or anything? Like could they just like talk to my boyfriend? He’s 22.
CLINIC: How old are you?
CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.
CLINIC: You need both parents consent in order to get it.
CALLER: Both parents? Is there any way not to tell them because if they found out they would be, they would be really mad.
CLINIC: There is a judicial bypass that’s available. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but the Highland Clinic would be able to give you more information on that. Basically you go before a judge and plead your case and then he gives you a bypass so that you don’t have to —
CALLER: Does the judge ever say no?
CLINIC: Not that I’m aware of. I think usually we — there’s specific judges we work with that, you know, usually give them permission, so.
CALLER: Well, would it be all right to come in there and get like a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: Have you taken a positive test yet?
CALLER: Well, I took a home pregnancy test over the weekend, and it was positive. But I wasn’t sure if I did it right.
CLINIC: Well, if it came back positive then you probably did.
CALLER: Oh, all right.
CLINIC: As long as you’ve taken the positive test then that’s all that —
CALLER: I Just kind of wanted a second opinion.
CLINIC: Okay, if you want to then you can. It’s $13 through us.
CALLER: Oh, okay, but you wouldn’t have to tell anybody if I was getting a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. Well, if it — like it’s just my boyfriend doesn’t anybody to know at all, so. I can’t let anyone know.
CLINIC: Well, we have confidentiality clauses for if you come in for a pregnancy test we can’t release that information to anybody, even if you were to call.
CALLER: Okay. Oh. Well, he was also wanting to know if we could get birth control, like so — but do you guys do that there?
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: And you still wouldn’t have to tell anybody about that either?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. Well, is it okay like if he had any other questions that I didn’t think of, to call you back and talk to you?
CLINIC: Yep.
CALLER: What was your name?
CLINIC: Oh, there’s only two of us up here and we can both answer questions, so it doesn’t really matter.
CALLER: Oh, well, I just like talking to you.
CLINIC: My name’s Angela, but I mean with only two of us up here —
CALLER: Yeah. Okay.
CLINIC: — it’s possible that I’ll be on the line with somebody else, but.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: Yeah. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#286 – Planned Parenthood in St. Paul, MN
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
1965 FORD PKWY.
ST. PAUL, MN 55116-1996
651-698-2406
TAPE – 286
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
RECORDING: Thank you for calling Planned Parenthood of Minnesota-South Dakota’s (unclear) Highland Clinic. If this is a life-threatening emergency, hang up now and dial 911. We answer our phones Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please listen to the following menu options. If you have a rotary phone, please hold and the first available staff member will take your call. For resupply hours, press 1. To cancel an appointment, press 2. For directions to our clinic, press 3. For information on emergency contraception, press 4. For information on surgical abortions, press 5 (dial button pressed).
This clinic does surgical abortions using the vacuum aspiration method under local anesthesia. Patients must be at least six weeks from the (dial button pressed). This clinic does surgical abortions using the vacuum aspiration method under local anesthesia. Patients must be at least six weeks from the start of their last normal menstrual period but no more than thirteen-and-a-half weeks. Medical assistance and many insurance plans pay for elective surgical abortions. If you want to use insurance to pay for your abortion, please call your insurance company to find out if they will cover an elective surgical abortion at our clinic. To speak to a staff person, press 1 (dial button pressed). Please hold.
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Highland Park Planned Parenthood. This is Laura.
CALLER: Hi. I talked to Jo in Burnsville, and she told me to call you guys about having an abortion so.
CLINIC: Okay. Did you listen to the recorded message?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. And how old are you?
CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.
CLINIC: You’ll be 14 in March?
CALLER: Uh-huh.
CLINIC: Did she tell you about the Minnesota state law which is that you have to have the notarized signature of both of your parents?
CALLER: Yeah. But she said that there was a way to get around that.
CLINIC: A judicial bypass, yes. Where are you calling from?
CALLER: I’m in Highland Park.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, so I think before I can schedule you an appointment for the procedure itself, if you want to come in here and talk to someone, they can get you started on the judicial bypass.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. So hold on and let me grab that appointment book.
CALLER: Okay.
(short pause)
CLINIC: Thanks for holding. Can you come in Friday morning?
CALLER: Well, I have to call my boyfriend to see. He’d be the only way I could get there. But is it all right if he signs for me or anything? Because he’s 22.
CLINIC: No. It has to be your biological parents. That’s like the law.
CALLER: But they can’t find out at all.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, then you can go through the judicial bypass. Do you know how far along you are?
CALLER: Well, not really. Like my last period was like the second week in December.
CLINIC: Okay. So we should get you started on this as soon as possible.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: My only appointments for this week are on Friday at 9 and 10 in the morning. Do you want to take one of those?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. And I guess if it turns out you can’t, please call and cancel.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay, what’s your name?
CALLER: It’s Christine.
CLINIC: Christine with a “C”?
CALLER: A “Ch,” yeah.
CLINIC: (spells out Christine) And what’s your last name?
CALLER: Smith.
CLINIC: Smith. Okay. And what’s a phone number we can reach you at? If you don’t want us to say Planned Parenthood, we can say clinic.
CALLER: Can I give you my boyfriend’s cell phone number?
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: Like I’d have to call him and see what it is, because he just got it, and I don’t know what it is yet. But is that okay to call you back with that?
CLINIC: We could call your – Just if we need to cancel or something, we could say Polly. Would that be easier?
CALLER: No, not really. No one can find out.
CLINIC: Okay. Yeah. Why don’t you call back, Christine? And if you don’t get a hold of me, just say that you’re trying to schedule a pre-court appointment.
CALLER: How much does it cost?
CLINIC: That appointment is free; however, the procedure itself if you’re under 12 weeks is $420.
CALLER: Does it cost anything for a lawyer to go to court?
CLINIC: No. I think that you can do that. You’ll have to talk to them when you come in.
CALLER: Could I come in and get a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: Have you had one?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, we charge $12 for the pregnancy test.
CALLER: Okay. But you guys wouldn’t have to tell anybody about that?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Okay. When do you guys normally do pregnancy tests?
CLINIC: It’s a walk-in service. You can come in today before 4 if you want to.
CALLER: Okay. Well, my boyfriend would have to bring me. But if it turned out that I wasn’t pregnant, do you guys do birth control there?
CLINIC: Yes.
CALLER: Would you have to tell anybody that I was on birth control?
CLINIC: No, we’re completely confidential. Like, after we hang up the phone we won’t discuss your appointment over the phone with anyone. No, we can’t tell anyone anything ever.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: It is kind of expensive to get birth control here. I might give you the name of some other clinics that have more affordable birth control because you have to have an annual exam to get birth control from our clinic.
CALLER: How much does that cost?
CLINIC: The annual exam is like $90. And then every month you have to pay for birth control, and it just varies a lot on how much it cost because there’s more expensive ones and cheaper ones.
CALLER: I don’t have a job.
CLINIC: So I would try and give you the number of some other places.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Your other option, if you can come in on Friday is you could take a pregnancy test before your counseling appointment.
CALLER: Okay. Does it cost anything?
CLINIC: That would be $12 for the pregnancy test.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay? Any more questions?
CALLER: No. I’ll call back.
CLINIC: Okay. You need to call and leave a phone number. And also when you come in, you need to bring a photo i.d. with a date of birth and address on it. And if you’re bringing anyone with you they also have to have a photo i.d., because we’re a secure facility. You can’t enter the building.
CALLER: Oh, okay. What if I don’t have an i.d.?
CLINIC: Okay. Do you have like a school i.d.?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Do you have your birth certificate?
CALLER: Yeah, I guess. Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Hold on just a second.
CALLER: Okay.
(pause)
CLINIC: Christine? Okay, if you don’t have any photo i.d. — you don’t even have like an i.d. card from your school?
CALLER: Well, I’m homeschooled.
CLINIC: Okay. You need to bring your birth certificate and a Social Security card.
CALLER: I don’t have a Social Security card either.
CLINIC: Okay. Does somebody in your family have yours?
CALLER: My mom might have one.
CLINIC: Well, then you would need to bring that.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? So you need to call back with the phone number, because if I don’t get a phone number from you, we can’t hold the appointment, okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But otherwise, right now it’s Friday at 9 a.m.
CALLER: So if my boyfriend brings me, what all does he have to bring?
CLINIC: He needs to bring the same thing. He just needs his photo i.d. And then you need some way to pay for the pregnancy test. Okay?
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: All right. Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***
#527 – Planned Parenthood in Thief River Falls, MN
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
309 LABREE AVE. N.
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN 56701-2020
218-681-7585
TAPE – 527
(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood in Thief River. This is Marla.
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: No, we don’t.
CALLER: Oh. Well, do you know of anybody that does?
CLINIC: I can give you a number in Fargo.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Hold on one second here. The number is 1-888-928-9009.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you know — I’m just really worried that like — well I’m going to be 14 in March, and my friend told me that they would have to tell my parents I was getting an abortion. But my boyfriend’s 22. Is he old enough to take care of it and they wouldn’t have to tell anyone?
CLINIC: You need to call them and find out.
CALLER: Really?
CLINIC: Yep. They can explain everything to you.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: I’m kind of thinking if you’re 14 you might have to.
CALLER: Really?
CLINIC: Um-hum.
CALLER: Well, okay.
CLINIC: You know, you need to —
CALLER: But my boyfriend’s 22. He’s not old enough to take care of that?
CLINIC: That’s got nothing to do with him. So — but call them. They can tell you.
CALLER: Okay. I’m just — well, could I come in there for a pregnancy test? I’m just really worried about all this because I haven’t had my period since like December 21st, and I’m scared.
CLINIC: Do you have any symptoms of pregnancy, do you think?
CALLER: I don’t — no. I just haven’t had my period for awhile.
CLINIC: Have you done a home preg test?
CALLER: No. I didn’t think that those were right.
CLINIC: Well, yeah, they’re — some of them are pretty accurate. But, yeah, are you a patient of ours?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. When do you want to come do that?
CALLER: Well, when do you guys normally do it?
CLINIC: Are you from town here?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Okay. Can you come up about 1:00?
CALLER: I think so. Maybe. I’d have to call my boyfriend to see. He’d be the only way I could get there. Would that be all right?
CLINIC: Yeah. Why don’t you let — call him. What’s your name?
CALLER: Christine.
CLINIC: With a K?
CALLER: A “Ch.”
CLINIC: C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E. And last name?
CALLER: Smith.
CLINIC: S-M-I-T-H.
CALLER: But would you have to tell anybody I was there for a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: Do I have to tell anybody?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: No. But I have to have your name so I can make a chart.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: But why don’t you find out from him, then let us know what time you can come?
CALLER: Okay. Well, if it ended up that I wasn’t pregnant could I get birth control there?
CLINIC: Well, we can schedule an appointment to get going.
CALLER: Okay. It’s just, I don’t’ want to have to go through all this again.
CLINIC: I’ll bet. Okay, well, you get ahold of him and see if you can get in for the preg test.
CALLER: Okay. But would you have to tell my parents if I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: Nope.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: No. That’s confidential.
CALLER: Okay. Well, what were you saying? I’m sorry.
CLINIC: I was just saying that if the test is positive, you’re going to need to call that Red River Women’s Health Clinic and get all the information you need from them, you know, on the laws and whatever needs to be done. But let’s do the first step first, okay?
CALLER: Are the laws any different there?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: Really?
CLINIC: No. I’m not sure. I really don’t know. You know, we have the number, and we have their brochure, and I really don’t know much more about it than that.
CALLER: Well, what?
CLINIC: I don’t really know much more about it than that.
CALLER: Oh. Well, could I get a copy of the brochure when I’m in there?
CLINIC: Yep. Yep.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Sure can. Okay.
CALLER: Well, do I need to call you back with anything? What was your name?
CLINIC: I’m Marla.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: You know, just call and let me know what time you can come.
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: So I need to set up an appointment to come in for a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: Well, I’ve got you down for 1:00 right now.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: Bye.
CALLER: Thanks.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#250 – Planned Parenthood in Virginia, MN
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
505 S. 12TH AVE. # 2
VIRGINIA, MN 55792-2001
218-741-8192
TAPE – 250
(dialing sounds) (ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood in Virginia. This is Amanda. Can I help you?
CALLER: Yeah, I was wondering if you guys do abortions there?
CLINIC: No, we don’t. But I can give you phone numbers for places that do.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Just a minute, please.
(pause)
CLINIC: Okay, the closest place is in Duluth. It’s called the Duluth Women’s Health Center.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And that’s 1-800-735-7654.
CALLER: Okay. Well, my friend actually told me that like since I’ll be 14 in March, that you guys have to tell my parents. But is it all right if like my boyfriend signs the papers or anything? Because he’s 22.
CLINIC: No. No. Your parents — there’s a parental notification law that your parents have to be notified of it.
CALLER: Well, is there any way that they don’t have to be notified? Because if they found out they would be furious. I don’t know what they would do.
CLINIC: There is what’s called a judicial bypass. As far as how it all works, you would have to contact them at the Duluth Women’s Health Center.
CALLER: Oh, all right.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: So would I be able to come in there and get like a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: You could, but if you’re planning on having that all done you might as well just go to the health center for it.
CALLER: Oh, well, it’s just, my friend told me to go to you guys, so.
CLINIC: Yeah. Well, if you want to be in Planned Parenthood you’d have to. I mean, they do them down in the cities at Planned Parenthood.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But other than that, Duluth is the closest place.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay. But, so you guys — you don’t think that they would have to tell anybody at all?
CLINIC: Well, if you came in just for a pregnancy test, no.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: But if you’re going to have an abortion done you have to — I mean, your parents have to be notified of it.
CALLER: But what if like I did the judicial bypass?
CLINIC: That I’m not sure. I’m not sure how all of that works. That’s why you’d have to call the Women’s Health Center and ask them about that.
CALLER: Okay. Would they have to — like my friend said that you guys would have to say something about my boyfriend being 22.
CLINIC: That I’m not sure either.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: There is something as far as — oh, I can’t think of how that works exactly. But I’m thinking because he is over 18, that there is maybe some stipulation with that.
CALLER: What do you mean?
CLINIC: Well, there may be something as far as regardless if you consented to it or not, saying yeah I wanted to have sex, it still, there still could be charges filed against him.
CALLER: Charges?
CLINIC: Yeah.
CALLER: Like what? What do you mean? He could get arrested?
CLINIC: Well, I mean, yeah. It could be considered like statutory rape.
CALLER: Well, but what could I — I don’t understand. What could I do then?
CLINIC: Well, you need to get this taken care of. You need to call the Duluth Women’s Health Center.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: And get it taken care of that way. As far as all the other stuff, I’m not sure. I’m sure they’d be able to help you with that too.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: But all I have the access to is just to give you phone numbers for it. And then, I mean, I do know there is the parental notification law. From what I understand, and whether this is totally correct or not, it’s just that your parents have to be notified that you were going to have this done.
CALLER: Oh. Well, I just don’t want anybody to get in trouble. Like I don’t want my boyfriend to be, have charges against him.
CLINIC: Right. Well, and I don’t know how they will handle that down there either. That’s why you’ll have to call and talk to them about it.
CALLER: Well, would it be better just not to say anything about him?
CLINIC: I can’t say that, no. I mean, I mean certainly if he’s there they might see that there’s an age difference. I don’t know.
CALLER: Oh.
CLINIC: But you would have to talk to them about it.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, is it okay if I call you back and ask questions again?
CLINIC: Sure.
CALLER: What was your name?
CLINIC: My name’s Amanda.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Okay. Well, thanks.
CLINIC: Uh-huh. You’re welcome. Bye.
CALLER: Bye.
(phone clicks)
***END***
#303 – Planned Parenthood in Willmar, MN
Listen to the Call:
Transcript:
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
2320 HIGHWAY 12 E. # 6
WILLMAR, MN 56201-5811
320-235-9150
TAPE – 303
(Dialing, phone ringing 1X)
CLINIC: Planned Parenthood in Willmar. This is Sarah. Can I help you?
CALLER: Hi. Yeah. I was wondering if you guys do abortions there.
CLINIC: No, we do not.
CALLER: Do you know of anyplace that does?
CLINIC: And where would be the closest place you could go to?
CALLER: Well, I don’t know.
CLINIC: Are you from around here?
CALLER: Well, sort of. I live in Spicer.
CLINIC: Okay. Probably Minneapolis. Minneapolis-St. Paul area would be the closest place to get those services.
CALLER: Okay. Well, do you have a phone number for that?
CLINIC: Let me look here. St. Paul, you could call 1-877-890-6225.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: Well, do you know — Like my friend told me — Like I’ll be 14 in March. And my friend said that they would have tell my parents and have them sign some stuff. But like my boyfriend’s 22. Could he do that?
CLINIC: No.
CALLER: No?
CLINIC: Nope. You’re only 14 or you’re 13?
CALLER: I’ll be 14 in March.
CLINIC: So you’re 13 right now?
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Yeah, in order for you to have an abortion, your parents are going to have to sign a consent. And both of them would have to sign it, not just one, in order for you to have an abortion in the state of Minnesota.
CALLER: Well, is there any way not to do that?
CLINIC: Nope, there’s not. It’s the Minnesota law. (laughs) It’s our wonderful legislature, so there’s no way to get around that one.
CALLER: Well, what can I do?
CLINIC: Well, you’re going to have to tell your parents.
CALLER: But I can’t tell my parents. They would be furious. I don’t know what they would do.
CLINIC: Well, I don’t know. It’s one of those conditions I guess where you’re between a rock and a hard spot, you know? The law says that you have to have your parents’ consent. You have to have them sign if you are going to have an abortion because you’re considered a minor. Either that or you can continue the pregnancy and go that route. But either way you’re going to have to tell them.
CALLER: But what if I wasn’t pregnant? Like could I come in there and get a pregnancy test?
CLINIC: Do you know that you’re pregnant?
CALLER: Well, not really. Like I’m just scared because like my last period was like the second week in December.
CLINIC: So you’re late for a period.
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: Are you having the signs of pregnancy?
CALLER: No.
CLINIC: Okay. Yeah. I would definitely come in and have a test first.
CALLER: Would you guys have to tell anybody that I was there for that?
CLINIC: No. We’re completely confidential here.
CALLER: Would it be all right if my boyfriend was there with me? Like that would be the only way I could get there.
CLINIC: Well, yeah. We have males come in here all the time.
CALLER: Oh, okay.
CLINIC: That’s, you know, not a problem. But are your parents aware that you’re dating an older man?
CALLER: Well, they know him, but they don’t know that we’re having sex.
CLINIC: Okay. But they know that you’re with him —
CALLER: Yeah.
CLINIC: — and they’re okay with that?
CALLER: Yeah. Kind of. Well, they don’t really like him. Like he’s a nice guy and everything, but they hate him because they think he’s too old for me.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, you know, parents are parents. (laughs) There is quite an age difference between 22 and 14, or 13 I guess.
CALLER: Well, why do you say that?
CLINIC: Well, you know, I’m just saying that parents have a tendency to do that when there is an age difference. You know, whether it be one year or two years or 20 years, you know.
CALLER: But he’s a sweet guy. He’s really good to me so.
CLINIC: Well, as long as he doesn’t, you know, abuse you or hurt you or mistreat you, then you know that’s what’s important.
CALLER: Yeah. I mean he’s going to take care of me and everything so.
CLINIC: Okay. Well, why don’t you come in and have the test done first, okay? You know take things one thing at a time here. Have the test done first, and then we’ll go from there whether that test comes out positive or negative. And then we’ll take that route when it comes.
CALLER: Well, if it was negative, do you guys do birth control there?
CLINIC: We sure do. And we could fit you in for an exam, including a pap smear. And go ahead and get you some sort of birth control method.
CALLER: Okay. Well, you wouldn’t have to tell anybody that I was on birth control though?
CLINIC: Nope. We would tell nobody. That’s completely confidential here.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay? Let’s see, it’s a little bit later in the day right now. But probably tomorrow would be a good time.
CALLER: Okay. Well, I’d have to call him and see when he could get off work to take me.
CLINIC: Oh, okay. Well, why don’t you find out what time works out good for you guys, and then give us a call back maybe. And we’ll work out a time. To let you know, a walk-in basis only is for pregnancy tests; we don’t schedule appointments for that. But if you want to just schedule an appointment for an exam, then you would need an appointment for that.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay?
CALLER: All right.
CLINIC: All right. We’ll wait to hear from you then.
CALLER: Okay.
CLINIC: Okay. Thanks.
CALLER: Thanks.
CLINIC: Bye bye.
CALLER: Bye.
***END***