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

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private health records from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive banning the use of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to prohibit puberty blockers in the region. By law, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been seen by the media, also instructed them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the request as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

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

Case of Louise*

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a response intended for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the media has obtained an email from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Parent Expresses Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the agency had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

“I would not share that data to any other organisation that requested it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her challenge, was evaluating a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that minors and their parents can understand the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a examination into gender-affirming care had been completed.