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The state government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a trans teenager – data she claims potentially exposed her teen – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from parents of transgender children who are considering a additional court case to its disputed prohibition on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was illegal.

Media has interviewed several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the authorities made a decision to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for particulars of their teen’s health background, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be provided.

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your teen is a patient of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can verify the data submitted with the health service,” reads the email, which was sent last Friday.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers described the demand as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was one of several who requested a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

In May, the department emailed a response intended for her to another parent, revealing her name and location – 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 message 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 immensely fearful of being outed in any social setting. She dislikes anyone to be aware that she’s transgender,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever disclose is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to people I consider incredibly safe and I trust completely.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Concerns

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

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that data to any other organisation that asked for it, especially in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You wouldn’t disclose, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the provision of reasons so that children and their parents can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a severe effect on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

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