🔗 Share this article

The state government released confidential details about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation came as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private health records from guardians of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government decided to ban puberty blockers in the state. By law, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information provided with the health service,” states the email, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a another individual.

“It seems like having to reveal your child to obtain a reply; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency sent a response meant for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the media has seen an email from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling disclosing the health background 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 data could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the ban would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.