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The state government released private information about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation came as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the use of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

Each were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was reluctant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her information to a different parent.

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

Case of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a response intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

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

She said the request was “threatening” and “feels threatening”.

Additional Parent Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to another entity that asked for it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. 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 provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been completed.