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

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each 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 identity disorder”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a explanation both times.

In May, the department emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department confirming the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the blunder.

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her young gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

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

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition 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 LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision 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 guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Ban

The government has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.