I agree with Tricia Shamblin. The argument that people can't be "made" to
feel something is wishful thinking. A case in point is the epidemic of
suicide by teenage girls who have been targeted on social media by other
girls with messages that they are worthless. Manipulative people of any age
are skilled in manipulating the feelings of others. That of course includes
the sort of insensitive health professional you refer to.

However, a lot of women who hear "breast is best" messages and have no
intention of breastfeeding can shrug them off, knowing that bottle-feeding
with artificial infant formula is (to use computer terms) the "default"
mode of infant feeding in their communities and peer groups. So they are
just doing what the people important to them do. Of course, there may be a
few who are offended, especially if they wanted to breastfeed but faced
physical, hormonal or logistical barriers - but I would suspect that this
isn't a common reaction. Some would think, "well, at least I tried and now
I can move on".

Basically, the wording of the statement we are discussing assumes one
possible reaction, ignoring diversity. It also seems to blame the public
health and breastfeeding communities.

Virginia
In Ipswich, Queensland

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