Ivan Illich and Disabling Professions

Having read Ivan Illich's article some time ago, I'm only now putting some thoughts on my blog. I found it really difficult to read first time over, and have tried to read it again on more than one occsion. It is an understatement to say that Illich really is anti the professions, but as I was reading I began to think that his dissatisfaction was much more deep than this and more wide ranging. His views on the consumer society that we live in today are evident. But, are we really so much in the grip of professionals? Do the professionals really, 'claim control over human needs'? I do agree as he says that, 'not only are helpful neighbours a vanising species, but so are liberal doctors who make housecalls'. However, without the medical profession, and the advances made within it, there would be a lot more suffering in the world. His article reminded me a bit of Nietzsche's about the madman in the marketplace, where nobody was listening to him. Are the professionals the 'mad' ones, are they gaining more and more power. Where is it all going to end? More questions than answers.........