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

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from parents of trans youth who are contemplating a further court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to ban puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the health authorities for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

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

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

Situation of the Mother

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

Earlier, the agency sent a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department confirming the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of need for gaining access to services and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Mother Expresses Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that requested it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that minors and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Ban

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