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The state government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

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

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data submitted with the health service,” states the email, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

“It feels like having to reveal your child to actually get a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department emailed a response intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and location – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the error.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” 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 core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to individuals I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

“It’s not my data, it’s a child’s information,” she said.

“To think that that information could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

She wrote back saying the agency had requested an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that information to another entity that requested it, particularly 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 minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The advocacy organization, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that minors and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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