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The state government released private information about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

Each were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any supporting documents which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was hesitant 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 reply; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her child, was among those who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was especially worried about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the agency had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which represented the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a review into gender-affirming care had been completed.