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The state government disclosed private information about the parent of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially “outed” her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the state government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from guardians of trans youth who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

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

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

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

Parents Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent characterized the demand as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was hesitant to share the details because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her child, was one of several who asked for a explanation on multiple occasions.

In May, the department emailed a response intended for her to another parent, disclosing her name and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an email from the department admitting the mistake.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the blunder.

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

“I respect that to my very being as much as possible. The only time I ever, ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to people I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Concerns

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

“It’s not my information, it’s a seven-year-old’s details,” she said.

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

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

“I would not share that information to another entity that requested it, especially in the climate of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential stuff. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit such details to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which represented the mother in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that children and their guardians can understand the logic behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Position on Ban

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