To address all comments about people who are upset by the idea that someone was raped by a doctor: if you were not there, why are you passing judgement on that at all? The fact that my friend was raped is not all this post is about, but rather than addressing the issues I raise, a couple of you seem to what to quibble over whether or not there was a sexual context. I really don't understand how and why why those of you that have, are so keen to tell me she wasn't raped, when you don't know what happened? That's not a rhetorical question, why do you feel compelled/ justified in doing this?
The general anger and animosity I am sensing from posters is exactly the reason I decided to raise the issue. You may all feel that you can perfectly rationalise the need for smear tests, and that this is enough to make you go, but the fact is, this is not the case for many girls/women. Trying to dismiss the experiences of girls/women who feel differently to you, or have had different experiences of healthcare, is not going to change this I'm afraid. I am interested in your experience, so thanks for sharing, but if you are not interested in the experiences I am sharing, or think that somehow because it's been great for you, there isn't a problem, there is no conversation to be had here.