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The Queensland government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a trans teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her teen – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure came as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential health records from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

All four 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 confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Parents Describe Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

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

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

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department sent a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an message from the agency admitting the error.

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

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

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the medical facility.

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

Additional Parent Expresses Worries

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

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to another entity that requested it, especially in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

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

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the mother in her case, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Government Stance on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.