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The Queensland government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private health records from parents of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Media has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” 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.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her information to a different parent.

“It seems like having to reveal your teen to obtain a response; like, it’s terrifying,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her child, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department admitting the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the error.

“My child is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her young gender-diverse child.

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply 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 Position on Prohibition

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