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

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was accused of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of transgender children who are considering a additional legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government decided to ban puberty blockers in the region. Legally, the document must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

Each were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was reluctant to share the details because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her teen, was among those who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the department emailed a reply meant for her to someone else, revealing her name and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the media has obtained an message from the agency confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes anyone to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been completed.