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The state government released private details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting confidential medical information from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a additional court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Health Information

Each were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” states the email, which was sent recently.

Mothers Describe Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the state government had mistakenly forwarded her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or expose her child, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the department sent a reply intended for her to another parent, revealing her identity and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the agency confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She doesn’t like anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to people I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that data could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the ban would stay enforced until a examination into gender-affirming care had been completed.