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The Queensland government disclosed private details about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was accused of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential health records from parents of transgender children who are contemplating a additional court case to its controversial ban on puberty blockers.

Latest Official Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of hormone blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

Media has spoken to four mothers who have approached 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 document must be provided under the legal statute.

Requested Medical Details

All four were required by the health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be provided.

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

Mothers Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was among those who requested a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a third party. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the agency admitting the mistake.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to supports and only to people I consider trustworthy and I trust completely.”

The parent was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

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

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be disclosed one day, in any manner, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

She responded 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 context of the present environment,” she said.

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

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their guardians can comprehend the reasoning 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 ban would stay enforced until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.