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The Queensland government disclosed private information about the parent of a trans teenager – information she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding confidential health records from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any supporting documents which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your teen 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 recently.

Parents Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It seems like having to ‘out’ your child to actually get a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Case of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her child, was one of several who asked for a explanation both times.

In May, the agency sent a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever share is out of need for gaining access to services and only to individuals I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Additional Mother Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling revealing the medical history of her young gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

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

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

Government Stance on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.