Mental health – Court of Protection. An issue arose regarding contact between an elderly man with dementia and a friend of his (M). Contact was opposed by the man's son and attorneys and advised against by his consultant. The local authority had conducted a best interests procedure which had determined that contact should not take place, but M wanted to maintain the relationship. Efforts at resolving the dispute failed, so the authority sought the permission of the Court of Protection to apply for determination of the dispute. The application was opposed by the son and attorneys. The court granted permission, as the factors in s 50 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 had been met.