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The Queensland government disclosed private information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. By law, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

All four 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 other evidence which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The email, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the data provided with the health service,” reads the email, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

“It seems like having to reveal your teen to obtain a reply; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply meant for her to another parent, revealing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the department admitting the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to people I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

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

Other Mother Expresses Worries

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

“It’s not my data, 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 unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity that asked for it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.