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The state government disclosed confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from parents of trans youth who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

All four mothers described the request as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her information to a different parent.

“It seems like having to ‘out’ your child to obtain a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was one of several who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

In May, the department emailed a response meant for her to another parent, disclosing her name and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an message from the agency confirming the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the blunder.

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the demand was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Mother Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

“It’s not my information, it’s a child’s details,” she said.

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to another entity that asked for it, especially in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.