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The state government disclosed private details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The information were sought before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother 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 ‘out’ your teen to actually get a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the agency sent a reply meant for her to another parent, disclosing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has seen an message from the department admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Voices Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“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 intensely private information. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

The government has repeatedly said the ban would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.