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The state government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any supporting documents which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was reluctant to share the information because the state government had accidentally forwarded her information to a different parent.

“It feels like having to reveal your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a response meant for her to someone else, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the error.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” as a result of the blunder.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to people I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “verified” by the hospital.

She said the request was “intimidating” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Mother Expresses Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

“It’s not my data, it’s a seven-year-old’s information,” she said.

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting 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 context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit such details to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.