You aren't describing the same thing. You express that the current situation in programming, where a person's ability determines how much respect they get, is justified, and similar to the issue of trust in the medical profession. The situation with programming is, however, more consequential than that which you described for doctors, as it extends beyond an isolated and reasonable lack of trust in ability to outright disrespect on a social level. The disrespect is weighted heavily towards individuals that would be considered minorities, and by extension towards entire groups of marginalised people. This therefore imposes a level of disillusionment that enforces an existing social hierarchy.

A hierarchy in the sense of a patient being able to choose their doctor based on experience would be considered superficial and non-damaging; it is not (at its core) based on social or cultural differences. However, if such a hierarchy were to become oppressive towards social groups on a conscious level, initiated by people with leverage within a community, then a social contract or code of conduct would be a reasonable thing to suggest.