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

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the authorities decided to ban puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

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 supporting documents which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your child 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 email, which was sent recently.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

One parent said she was reluctant to share the details because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her information to a another individual.

“It seems like having to reveal your child to obtain a response; like, it’s frightening,” she said.

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or “out” her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation both times.

In May, the department sent a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department admitting the error.

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

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

“I respect that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to services and only to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

She said the demand was “threatening” and “seems coercive”.

Additional Parent Voices Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable disclosing the health background of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I would not share that data 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 provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Further Action

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that minors and their guardians can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Ban

The authorities has consistently said the prohibition would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been completed.