Bereaved families in chaos as IT glitch causes errors on death certificates

Chaos ensues

Bereaved families are facing turmoil as a catastrophic IT glitch has left death certificates filled with errors, causing legal issues and blocking access to important accounts.

Heartbreaking consequences

The glitch, which duplicated doctor names on the certificates, has rendered them legally invalid, leaving families in bureaucratic limbo and unable to move forward with settling estates and accessing vital accounts.

Government response

Officials are unsure of the extent of the issue, but the Government claims to have patched up the "technical issue" that caused the errors. The fix was implemented on Wednesday, but concerns remain about the impact on affected families.

Impact and concerns

One family member shared their ordeal of dealing with the fallout of the glitch, highlighting the challenges faced in rectifying the errors and the emotional toll it has taken. Concerns have been raised about the number of families affected and the potential legal implications of the faulty certificates.

Legal ramifications

The glitch, which stemmed from an automated system error, compromised the verification process required for accuracy on death certificates. This has caused delays in registering deaths, accessing funds for funerals, and preserving assets in the estate, leading to added distress for grieving families.

Government assurance

The Government has assured that the fix is now in place and that councils can issue correct certificates using a temporary workaround while the permanent solution is being implemented. However, questions remain about the communication with affected families and ensuring such errors are prevented in the future.