🔗 Share this article Parent of Trans Teen Alleges State Government of Privacy Breach That Could Have ‘Outed’ Her Child The state government disclosed private information about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual. Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy” The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a further court case to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers. Recent Government Directive on Hormone Treatments Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal. Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be supplied under the legal statute. Requested Medical Details Each were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”. The details were requested before the explanation would be released. The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was sent recently. Mothers Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality Each parent described the demand as an invasion of privacy. A mother said she was hesitant to share the details because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a different parent. “It feels like having to reveal your teen to actually get 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 requested a statement of reasons both times. Earlier, the department sent a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the department confirming the mistake. She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the blunder. “My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to know that she’s transgender,” the mother said. “I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.” The parent 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 Expresses Worries Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child. “It’s not my data, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said. “To think that that data could accidentally be leaked someday, in any way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.” She wrote back saying the agency had asked for an “excessive level of detail”. “I would not share that information to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the context of the current political climate,” she said. “It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.” Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her case, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week. The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”. Authorities Stance on Prohibition The authorities has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a examination into gender-affirming care had been completed.