[johnnybgoode]

> Are you saying the confidence we give doctors based on their years of studying and research just might be too much faith in the Government standard?

Yes, absolutely.

> What is your suggestion to replace that? As some careers demand a certain level of competency and skill (Doctors, Nurses, Civil Engineers, et cetera)?

It turns out someone else here has asked me the same question, please see http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=645576 (my answer follows there).

> Maybe an apprentice/master system? Seems to work well for skill trades, why not for doctors?

Agreed. They do this already in a way, but if you combine it with a much more diverse set of options I think that would accomplish the goal.