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

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

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 supporting documents which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The information were sought before the statement of reasons would be provided.

The email, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to verify if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the email, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label 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 information to a different parent.

“It feels like having to reveal your teen to obtain a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

She said the demand was “intimidating” and “seems coercive”.

Other Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

“It’s not my information, 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, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

“I wouldn’t provide that data to another entity that requested it, especially in the climate 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 very reluctant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

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