A 24-year-old patient was involved in an MVC.

Pertinent negatives are findings that are not present, but would be clinically relevant if they were. For example:

“No neck or back pain” helps rule out spinal injury

“No loss of consciousness” informs head trauma assessment

Statements about behavior or initial refusal (B, E) may be documented under patient behavior or refusal, but they are not pertinent negatives. Positive findings like abdominal tenderness are pertinent positives.