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The Queensland government released private information about the parent of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Accusations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after requesting private medical information from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Official Directive on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order prohibiting the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the high court ruled the initial ban was unlawful.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

Each 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 teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The information were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your child is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the communication, which was sent recently.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the information because the state government had accidentally sent her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of the Mother

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her child, was one of several who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

In May, the department sent a response intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and address – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the media has obtained an email from the department admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes people to know that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my core as much as possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to individuals I consider trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “confirmed” by the hospital.

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

Additional Parent Voices Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the medical history of her young gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could inadvertently be leaked one day, in any way, you know, even if that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to submit any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their relatives and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Authorities Stance on Prohibition

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