ABSTRACT
In recent years, professionals (and professionalism) have attracted a considerable amount of adverse criticism. Furthermore, this chorus of complaint has been directed mainly at the so-called 'caring' or 'liberal' professions, for example, doctors, lawyers and teachers. These have been charged with serious shortcomings, ranging from arrogant elitism to monopolistic exploitation. For example, Robinson (1978) writes of the professional and the client inhabiting 'worlds apart', where professionals seriously fail their clients by giving unworkable or inconsistent advice, not explaining adequately what their decisions or prescriptions involve, lacking in genuine sympathy or concern, judging clients' needs inappropriately, and using their status to render the client powerless and at their mercy. Such charges as these have culminated in the general allegation that these professions actually 'disable' their clients through the creation of spurious 'imputed needs' and 'expert solutions' (Illich et al., 1977).
