Final answer:
True, a veterinary hospital could potentially be held liable for negligence if it fails to provide education on deworming their puppy to a client and document it, particularly if a client's child suffers from a roundworm infection like viscera larva migrans (toxocariasis) leading to loss of sight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question poses a hypothetical legal scenario regarding professional liability within a veterinary practice. The scenario is this: if a veterinary hospital failed to provide deworming education for a puppy and to document this education, and subsequently a client's child suffers from visceral larva migrans, which leads to loss of sight, could the veterinary practice be held legally liable?
The answer is True. Failure to inform and educate about the dangers of roundworm infections and the importance of deworming can be considered negligence, making the practice liable for damages resulting from such negligence. Roundworms, such as Toxocara canis and T. cati, are known to cause toxocariasis in humans, leading to serious health issues including vision loss.
Worms such as hookworms and roundworms can cause various symptoms in humans, depending on the type of infection. The role of the veterinarian includes not just treating the animals but also preventing zoonotic diseases - illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Deworming pets and educating their owners about the risks and prevention methods is a critical aspect of this responsibility. Documentation of such education is crucial as it serves as evidence that the veterinary staff conducted their due diligence in the care and advisement of their clients, thus helping to mitigate liability risks.