Sure, your friend could have been more proactive, but I do actually think the healthcare providers have their fair share of responsibility here too.

Lets say we were talking about something different like when I found out I had gallstones. My GP didn't just send me to a specialist, she first of all told me everything she knew about it all, so that I had some knowledge in the interim.

HOwever what happened to your friend would never happen to me.. I'm such an info junkie that I knew just about everything about getting pregnant before it even happened!