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The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

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

Latest Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was reluctant to share the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Case of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

In May, the department sent a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency confirming the error.

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

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

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and only to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

She said the request was “threatening” and “feels threatening”.

Other Mother Voices Worries

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the health background of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

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

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

Advocacy Group Weighing Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her case, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

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

Government Position on Ban

The government has consistently said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been finished.