“We’ve heard stories,” the father tells me authoritatively. “Doctors miss things. We want to make sure it’s just a stomach bug, and not something worse.”

“I already know why I’m here,” the man in the bright-green hoodie informs me, even before the door is closed.

Stifling a sigh, I paste on a smile and sit across from him. The know-it-alls are some of the toughest patients I deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes they’re saturated with Doctor Google (mis)information, and sometimes they’re just stubborn.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Rubin. Can you please tell me some of your symptoms?”

“Fine.” (Cue the obnoxious eye roll.) “I’ve been coughing for a few days, and I have a scratchy feeling in my throat. My nose is running, and I’m feeling tired and run-down. I need some antibiotics, not a body scan,” he informs me.

“Let me just check you,” I say pleasantly, toes curling with dread inside my comfortable sneakers. He probably has a bad cold — it is winter, after all, and half the city seems to be in the grip of some virus or other — but I don’t think he’s going to take my word for it.

He submits, somewhat impatiently, as I check his ears and throat, and listen to his breathing. He’s running a low-grade temperature, and his throat does look red. The runny nose and watery eyes are classic.

“It looks like you have a cold,” I tell my patient. “Rest and fluids for the next few days should help. You can use—”

“But what about medication? I need azithromycin!” he protests.

“Azithromycin works for bacterial infections. It won’t cure your cold, and it’s not a good idea to take antibiotics for nothing,” I say, keeping my voice level.

“But I need it!” he yells, his face dangerously livid.

“I can’t prescribe it for you,” I say firmly.

“What kind of doctor are you? Who’s in charge here?”