Bergen County Law Blog

Skin cancer is far more than just a dark mole

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

When people ask how to spot skin cancer, doctors often tell them to look for a dark mole with an asymmetrical shape. It may grow and change over time. It may have started as a normal mole and then gotten darker or larger. It may seem to have appeared out of nowhere.

This is good advice. You absolutely want to listen to your doctor, and you need to meet with a dermatologist as soon as possible if you think you may have skin cancer. Do not put this off. It's often easily treatable at first, but it can turn deadly if it gets ignored for too long.

Potential risk factors for birth injuries

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

When doctors help you deliver your child, they need to be aware of some of the potential risk factors that could lead to a birth injury. If they overlook these risk factors, it could lead to mistakes that cause life-long injuries or even take the life of the mother or the child. Doctors must not be negligent, they must be aware and alert, and they must give the mother and the child the level of care that they deserve.

The risk factors

Do you have to close your business when a partnership ends?

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Friday, May 10, 2019.

You feel like you're going through a divorce, even though you're not married. The problem is your business partner. The two of you started working together five years ago, and it is clear to you that the relationship has come to an end. You can't go on anymore, and you plan to end the partnership.

Does that mean your company has to close its doors? Is the dream over? Do you have to start from scratch?

Is fast shipping making the roads more dangerous?

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

It's proudly touted as a perk with major online sellers: free two-day shipping. Buy it today and it will be on your front step two days from now.

In the past, people didn't like online shopping because of the delay. Waiting seven to 10 days just felt too long. With two-day shipping, though, the game changed. Now, unless someone was considering driving to a brick and mortar store that very night, it's actually just as fast to buy something online.

Urgency can lead to medical mistakes

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

If you've ever spent time in a hospital, you know that medical professionals often appear to be in a hurry. They work in a fast-paced environment. They rush from room to room, from procedure to procedure. When a call comes in, they hurry to the next appointment.

This is even more pronounced in an emergency room or another part of a hospital dealing with emergency procedures. Things like this are impossible to predict and harder to prepare for. Doctors cannot count on a set schedule and have to react to the current crisis.

Documentary explores reasons for medical errors

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

How much do you trust your doctor? How comfortable do you feel going in for surgery? Are you confident that the medical team will give you the best possible results?

These days, people are starting to wonder, despite advances in medical science. The reason is that reports have shown just how common serious mistakes still are. In the Information Age, it's easy for statistics and stories to make the rounds, and people generally do not go to the hospital with the naive idea that the staff has such a high level of professionalism that no one will make a mistake.

7 signs that you need to break up with your business partner

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

You and your business partner have worked together for a few years now, and you want this business to thrive. You're not sure if staying with the same partner is the key to making that happen. You've seen too many red flags, and you think it may be time to end this professional relationship.

It's a tough move to make. You both got into this together. You wish you could go back in time to the day when you launched and everything felt positive and optimistic. But you can't ignore your concerns, which could ruin everything you worked for.

Tips to help reduce the odds of a medication mistake

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Monday, February 11, 2019.

When you get a new prescription medication, do you know what the pills should look like? Or do you trust that the little orange vial that you get from the pharmacy is the right one and take the contents as directed?

We all know that we should understand exactly what we're taking, but the reality is that a lot of people assume that the doctor got it right, they assume that the pharmacy got it right and they assume that they can take that medication without worry.

5 critical driving distractions

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

You've heard it over and over again: Distracted driving kills. It causes accidents and takes lives every day. The news all across New Jersey is filled with the names of people who lost their lives or suffered serious injuries because someone else got distracted behind the wheel.

But what are these distractions, exactly? What types of behavior should you avoid or watch out for in others? A few key examples include:

What can you do about improper medical records disclosure?

On behalf of Michael J. Epstein of The Epstein Law Firm, P.A. on Friday, January 11, 2019.

Protecting your privacy may seem like a minor matter to some, but when it comes to confidential medical records, breaches of privacy are often quite serious. In today's increasingly connected world, it is easier than ever to share information, and harder than ever to keep our personal information secure.

This is especially true when it comes to medical records. For most patients, the advances in collating and sharing medical records between care providers is a crucial part of maintaining good health or fighting an ailment, but what if someone improperly discloses your sensitive medical records? What steps can you take to fight back against it once the cat is out of the bag?