Do you believe it is ethical to prescribe expensive drugs to less wealthy patients, even if the drug is better quality than cheaper drugs?

It is unethical to prescribe expensive drugs regardless of how effective they are, if the patient did not agree to it. All patients have a right to autonomy, which means that they have the right to choose for themselves, whether they would like to have the more expensive medication or not. It is the physicians job to relay all the relevant information to the patient, so that the patient would be able to make a smart and rational decision toward his or her treatment. Moreover, considering that the patient is less wealthy, prescribing an expensive medication could have other detrimental effects especially on the financial front of the patient. They may be able to buy the medication, but it being expensive would sacrifice a lot that the physician may be unaware of, that the patient may experience in the long run. The point is, when dealing with cases like this, it is important for the physician to lay out all the necessary information, so that the patient could make a decision for themselves.