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The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

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

Media has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

Each were asked 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 child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent described the request as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It seems like having to ‘out’ your teen to obtain a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Case of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her teen, was among those who requested a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department admitting the mistake.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Mother Expresses Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a review into gender-affirming care had been finished.