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The Queensland government released confidential details about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The details were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data provided with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had accidentally forwarded her information to a different parent.

“It feels like having to ‘out’ your teen to obtain a reply; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

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

In May, the department sent a reply meant for her to another parent, revealing her name 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 obtained an email from the department confirming the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a result of the blunder.

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to supports and exclusively to individuals I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

She said the demand was “intimidating” and “feels threatening”.

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

Another mother said she was unwilling revealing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

“It’s not my information, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said.

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

She responded saying the department had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Position on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would stay enforced until a review into gender-affirming care had been completed.