TRUE OR FALSE: When recording patient history, only the positive responses are pertinent.

• A. TRUE
• B. FALSE
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

Recording patient history involves capturing both what the patient reports and what they deny. Positive responses show current or past symptoms, treatments, and risk factors that guide diagnosis and management. Negative responses are just as important because they help rule out conditions, establish a baseline, and flag contraindications or areas needing further clarification. In eye care, for example, noting both current symptoms and the absence of symptoms (or past events like no prior ocular surgeries, no allergies, no systemic diseases) helps tailor the examination and treatment plan. A patient denying an allergy to penicillin, or denying smoking as a risk factor, still provides critical information that shapes safety and care decisions. So, it’s not enough to record only positives—the complete history relies on both positive and negative responses.