Report: Assisted Living Resident Had 18 Shots, Beer Before Doc

An assisted living facility in Minnesota is under scrutiny after state investigators say staff let a resident with a long history of substance abuse down 18 liquor shots and a beer before a medical appointment meant to address his drinking. The Minnesota Department of Health concluded that the Covered Bridge facility in Holdingford "neglected" the man by giving him alcohol and failing to track how much he consumed over two days in the first week of June, according to an investigative report cited by People. A medical worker later described him as "dead to the world," per FOX 9, which IDed the man as Don Brambrink.

Brambrink was diverted from his primary care visit to an emergency room, where his blood alcohol level was logged at almost three times the state's legal driving limit, per the Pioneer Press. Brambrink, who has struggled with addiction and homelessness, tells FOX 9 he disagrees with the findings and described the facility as life-changing, saying staff treat him "like a king" and that he's now sober.

Covered Bridge isn't facing criminal charges, at least at the moment, noting in a statement it specializes in accepting "extreme" alcoholism cases that other homes refuse. The facility argues that state law lets competent adults choose to drink, and that employees only help residents access their own alcohol while monitoring for safety and arranging for medical care when needed.