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The state government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its disputed ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the media, 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,” reads the email, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the state government had accidentally sent her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the agency sent a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department admitting the error.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes people 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 share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to people I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her young gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that children and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

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