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The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a trans teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private health records from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional legal challenge to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the high court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

Each were required by the health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, 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 information were requested before the explanation would be released.

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with the health service,” states the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Mothers Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was hesitant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a another individual.

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

Case of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her child, was among those who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a response meant for her to someone else, revealing her name and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department confirming the error.

She said she felt “sick and unsafe” as a result of the error.

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to services and only to people I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the implication it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Other Mother Expresses Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

“I would not share that data to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a second lawsuit, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

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