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

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private medical information from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Requested Health Information

All four were asked by the health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to verify if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information submitted with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the information because the state government had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the media has seen an message from the agency confirming the error.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of need for gaining access to supports and only to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

Another mother said she was not comfortable disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse 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 someday, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I would not share that data to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status 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 Further Action

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations so that minors and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

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