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The Queensland government disclosed confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted 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 region. By law, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each 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 other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly sent her data to a different parent.

“It feels like having to reveal your child to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

Earlier, the department emailed a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her name and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

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

Louise was especially worried about the implication it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

“It’s not my data, it’s a child’s details,” she said.

“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I would not share that information to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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