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The state government released confidential details about the mother of a trans teenager – data she says potentially exposed her child – to a unknown individual.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Privacy Violation”

The disclosure emerged as the government was charged of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private health records from guardians of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its controversial ban on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Order on Puberty Blockers

Recently, the state health official, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to four mothers who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a detailed account of why the authorities decided to ban hormone treatments in the region. By law, the document must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Health Information

All four were asked by the health authorities for particulars of their child’s medical history, including the minor’s identity, their date of birth and any supporting documents which supports your child having a clinical diagnosis of gender identity disorder”.

The information were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The message, which has been seen by the Guardian, also instructed them to verify if your child is a patient of the youth gender service so that we can verify the data provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

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

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the authorities had mistakenly forwarded her data to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who cannot be legally identified because it would also reveal or expose her teen, was among those who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the department emailed a reply intended for her to someone else, revealing her name and location – and the detail that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a government employee later said sorry by telephone; the media has seen an message from the department confirming the mistake.

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

“My child is very reserved. She is immensely fearful of being exposed in any public space. 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 disclose is out of need for gaining access to supports and exclusively to people I deem trustworthy and I trust completely.”

Louise was especially worried about the implication it would be “verified” by the hospital.

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

Additional Mother Voices Concerns

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

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

“To think that that information could accidentally be leaked one day, in any manner, you know, although that was accidental, could be deeply, deeply distressing to them.”

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

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

“It’s such intensely private stuff. You would not reveal, for example, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and careful to submit such details to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Advocacy Group Considering Further Action

The advocacy organization, which represented the parent in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about 500 Queensland children and their families and it was “important to efficiently facilitate the supply of explanations 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 Stance on Prohibition

The authorities has consistently said the ban would remain in place until a examination into trans healthcare had been finished.