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

Accusations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation came as the state government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting private medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on puberty blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was illegal.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers 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. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the legal statute.

Demanded Medical Details

All four were asked 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 confirms your child having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

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

The email, which has been reviewed by the Guardian, also instructed them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can confirm the data submitted with the health service,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Label Demand as Invasion of Privacy

All four mothers characterized the request as an invasion of privacy.

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

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

Situation of Louise*

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

Earlier, the agency emailed a reply intended for her to another parent, disclosing her identity and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency admitting the error.

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

“My daughter is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The only time I ever share is out of necessity for gaining access to services and only to people I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Concerns

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

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

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

She wrote back saying the department had requested an “excessive level of detail”.

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and careful to submit any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Second Lawsuit

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

Its president, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can understand the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Authorities Position on Prohibition

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