The state government released confidential details about the parent of a trans teenager – information she claims potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual.
Accusations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”
The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.
Latest Official Order on Hormone Treatments
Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.
Media has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.
Requested Medical Details
All four were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.
The information were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.
The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.
Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy
Each parent characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.
A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a another individual.
“It seems like having to ‘out’ your child to obtain a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.
Situation of the Mother
The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her teen, was among those who asked for a explanation both times.
Earlier, the department sent a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the agency confirming the error.
She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the error.
“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.
“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity 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 hospital.
She said the request was “intimidating” and “feels threatening”.
Additional Parent Voices Worries
Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the health background of her young gender-diverse child.
“It’s not my data, it’s a child’s details,” she said.
“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”
She wrote back saying the agency had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.
“I would not share that data to another entity that requested it, particularly in the context of the present environment,” she said.
“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a group of officials, basically.”
Legal Service Considering Further Action
The advocacy organization, which assisted the mother in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.
The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.
Authorities Stance on Ban
The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.
