A Bit Forgetful, Aren't We?

Just what you'd want really, isn't it? A decaying body left at the scene:

The body of a 76-year-old woman found dead in her Vienna flat was left there for nine days because a doctor who registered the death forgot to notify a removal service, officials said Tuesday.

The oversight was noticed when neighbors of the deceased woman complained of a worsening stench, said Andreas Flaschner, spokesman for the Austrian capital's disinfection department.

"It was a mistake. The doctor thought paramedics had removed the body while the paramedics thought the doctor had arranged for it. I've worked here 20 years and never seen anything like it," said Flaschner. The body was taken for burial on October 8.

Now mistakes do happen but this is the sort of thing that happens when no one has a direct responsibility. Ubless someone does, is made responsible for ensuring that a specific action is taken, it's all too easy for things to slip between the cracks like this.

Let that be a warning to managers!