Somehow the decision makers would need to be able to see the issue here with pilots. A pilot has a skill set that can be applied across a variety of equipment (with appropriate associated training). Even if overall experience can be explained away and discounted they must surely be made to see that there is 'comparable' experience that should not be discounted when assessing candidates. The devil is in the detail...
However the problem with aviation is that it is independently regulated by CASA whom would by prior rulings, it would appear, agree with the airline's position.
Doctor's are self regulated so they can actually have some influence in their own profession. If an independent regulator moved in to control doctors I would bet that all of a sudden there would be more restrictions put on doctors and suddenly they would need a similar 'endorsement' system to touch everything in a hospital.
Hence why the AMA would move heaven and earth to prevent any form of independent regulation in medicine.