Too many dead bodies

He was brought in to take over one of the worst state medical examiner's offices in the country, but the increase in autopsies has brought its own problems now that there is only one fully staffed office in the state. 

Too few body bags, an overwhelmed plumbing system, long delays in picking up bodies at scenes of crimes  and too little space with some bodies being stored in refrigerated trucks parked behind the building is causing a "review of the situation" in Boston.

Autopsies overwhelm medical examiner staff says the Boston Globe.

The Boston Herald has by far the more vivid report.  Morgue backlog 'nightmare'.

One morgue technician walked off the job and flung his badge at his supervisor.  Now on administrative leave while the office processes his complaint, he emails the Herald that:

• Bodies stacked three high on shelves and gurneys in the main cooler, many decomposing and dripping fluids onto others through leaky body bags.
• At least five infants have remained in the cooler for upwards of two years because the office has not been able to arrange burials.
• Poor ventilation leading to a constant stench of decomposition and the routine presence of flies in the autopsy areas.
•  Several cases in which improper drainage and a heavy caseload have caused blood and bodily fluids to back up and pool onto the floor of the autopsy suite.

“These bodies all have names. They are just lying there decomposing with mold forming on them,” said Kelley, a father of four. “It shows a total disregard for human remains.

One shudders to think what would happen in a disaster.