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The Queensland government disclosed private details about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. By law, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the information submitted with the health service,” states the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Describe Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized 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 information to a another individual.

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or “out” her child, was one of several who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a reply meant for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to know that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and only to people I consider incredibly safe and I know well.”

The parent was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Other Mother Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was unwilling revealing the health background of her young non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that data could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to them.”

She wrote back saying the department had asked for an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her case, was evaluating a new legal action, it said last week.

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 reasons so that minors and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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