If a patient declines breakfast, what can be inferred?

• A. The patient ate breakfast.
• B. The patient requested a snack.
• C. The patient declined breakfast.
• D. The patient skipped lunch.

Answer: (C)

Declining a meal means the patient chose not to eat that meal. So when breakfast is declined, the best inference is that the patient did not eat breakfast. This does not imply they ate breakfast, nor that they asked for a snack, and it says nothing about lunch. In notes you’d record that the patient declined breakfast and note any reasons or alternatives if given.