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The state government disclosed confidential information about the mother of a transgender teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The revelation came as the government was charged of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further legal challenge to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Recent Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the prescription of puberty blockers for transgender patients, just hours after the state’s supreme court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have approached Nicholls for a legal document called a explanation of decision – a formal explanation of why the government decided to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were required by the Queensland health department for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were sought before the explanation would be released.

The email, which has been seen by the Guardian, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the email, which was sent recently.

Parents Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

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

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the state government had mistakenly 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

Louise*, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or “out” her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

In May, the department sent a response meant for her to someone else, revealing her identity and address – and the detail that she had a trans teen – to a stranger. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has obtained an email from the department admitting the mistake.

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

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

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to individuals I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

Louise was particularly concerned about the implication it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

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

Additional Mother Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the health background of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked someday, in any manner, you know, although that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

“I would not share 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 stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her challenge, was considering a second lawsuit, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of reasons so that minors and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

The government has repeatedly said the prohibition would stay enforced until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.