Part of a specialist's job is diagnosis. The ability to diagnose accurately depends on one's ability to apply existing knowledge to form a conclusion and/or to order further relevant tests to isolate it and/or to do additional research.

The ability to do this can only be required through original research experience. And unfortunately, the M. D. degree doesn't even require it.

Medical school (and residency/intern) training at best only drills a bunch of facts/procedures into the student's head. And that doesn't cut it. When it comes time to diagnose a condition, unless that M. D. is very lucky (the diagnosis was one that was drilled into his head via memorization of specific procedures, he'll be SOL.

But if it was that simple (i. e. diagnosis thru memorization) a doctor wouldn't even be needed. Test/radiology results + WebMD would do

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