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The state government disclosed private details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

All four were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were requested before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with the health service,” states the email, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the authorities had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

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

Earlier, the agency emailed a response meant for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid 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 very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

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

Legal Service Weighing Further Action

The advocacy organization, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, 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 children and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

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