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The state government released confidential details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Privacy Violation”

The revelation emerged as the government was charged of “intimidation” and “an invasion of privacy” after demanding private medical information from parents of trans youth who are considering a additional legal challenge to its disputed ban on puberty blockers.

Recent Government Directive on Hormone Treatments

Recently, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a fresh directive prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, just hours after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to prohibit puberty blockers in the state. By law, the paper must be provided under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

All four 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 confirms your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria”.

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

The message, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to verify if your teen is a client of the youth gender service so that we can verify the information submitted with the health service,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Parents Label Request as Breach of Confidentiality

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

A mother said she was reluctant to divulge the details because the authorities had accidentally sent her information to a different parent.

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

Case of Louise*

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department sent a response intended 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 department official later said sorry over the phone; the Guardian has seen an message from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any social setting. She doesn’t like people to be aware that she’s trans,” Louise said.

“I honor that to my core as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of necessity for obtaining entry to supports and exclusively to individuals I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

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

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

Additional Parent Expresses Concerns

Sally* said she was not comfortable revealing the medical history of her seven-year-old non-binary child.

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

“To think that that data could accidentally be leaked someday, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

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

“I would not share that data to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the context of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such intensely private information. You would not reveal, for instance, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

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

The head, Ren Shike, said the decision had impacted about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to promptly enable the supply of reasons so that minors and their guardians can understand the logic 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 gender-affirming care had been finished.