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The state government released confidential information about the parent of a trans teenager – information she says potentially exposed her teen – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Intimidation” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the state government was charged of “intimidation” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding confidential medical information from parents of trans youth who are contemplating a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Directive on Puberty Blockers

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a new order prohibiting the prescription of hormone blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the government’s first attempt was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has spoken to several parents who have contacted Nicholls for a legal document called a statement of reasons – a formal explanation of why the government decided to prohibit hormone treatments in the region. Legally, the paper must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

All four were asked by the Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any supporting documents which supports your teen having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The details 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 provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” reads the communication, which was dispatched last Friday.

Parents Label Request as Invasion of Privacy

Each parent characterized the demand as an violation of confidentiality.

A mother said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the authorities had accidentally forwarded her data to a another individual.

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

Situation of the Mother

Louise*, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or expose her child, was among those who asked for a statement of reasons both times.

In May, the department emailed a response intended for her to someone else, disclosing her identity and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised by telephone; the Guardian has seen an email from the agency admitting the error.

She said she felt “ill and vulnerable” as a consequence of the error.

“My child is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She doesn’t like people to know that she’s trans,” the mother said.

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever disclose is out of necessity for gaining access to services and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Expresses Concerns

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

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

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

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

“I wouldn’t provide that information to any other organisation that requested it, particularly in the context of the current political climate,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You wouldn’t disclose, for instance, your medical condition to the minister’s office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a bunch of bureaucrats, basically.”

Legal Service Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which represented the parent in her case, was considering a new legal action, it said recently.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had impacted about hundreds of minors and their families and it was “important to promptly enable the supply of explanations so that minors and their parents can comprehend the reasoning behind this decision, which has had such a devastating impact on their access to healthcare”.

Government Stance on Prohibition

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