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The state government disclosed private details about the parent of a transgender teenager – information she says potentially “outed” her child – to a stranger.

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was accused of “coercion” and “an invasion of privacy” after requesting confidential health records from parents of trans youth who are considering a further court case to its disputed prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Official Directive on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the Queensland health minister, Tim Nicholls, issued a fresh directive banning the prescription of puberty blockers for trans individuals, shortly after the high court ruled the initial ban was illegal.

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 ban puberty blockers in the state. Legally, the paper must be supplied under the state’s Judicial Review Act.

Requested Medical Details

Each were required by the Queensland health department for details of their teen’s health background, including “your child’s name, their birthdate and any other evidence which confirms your teen having a medical confirmation of gender dysphoria”.

The details were requested before the explanation would be provided.

The email, which has been seen by the media, also asked them to verify if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information provided with the health service,” reads the communication, which was sent recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the request as an invasion of privacy.

One parent said she was hesitant to divulge the details because the authorities had mistakenly sent her data to a another individual.

“It feels like having to ‘out’ 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 identify or expose her teen, was one of several who requested a explanation on multiple occasions.

Earlier, the agency sent a reply intended for her to someone else, disclosing her name and location – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a stranger. She said a department official later said sorry by telephone; the media has obtained an message from the department confirming the error.

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

“My daughter is incredibly private. She is deeply afraid of being outed in any public space. She dislikes people to be aware that she’s transgender,” the mother said.

“I honor that to my core as much as possible. The sole occasion I ever, ever share is out of need for obtaining entry to services and exclusively to individuals I deem incredibly safe and I know well.”

Louise was especially worried about the suggestion it would be “verified” by the medical facility.

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

Other Parent Voices Worries

Sally* said she was unwilling disclosing the medical history of her seven-year-old gender-diverse child.

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

“To think that that data could inadvertently be disclosed one day, in any way, you know, although that was accidental, could be extremely upsetting to him.”

She wrote back saying the department had asked for an “extraordinary amount of information”.

“I would not share that data to another entity that asked for it, particularly in the climate of the present environment,” she said.

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for example, your HIV status to the government office, you know. You’d be hesitant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a group of officials, essentially.”

Legal Service Considering Further Action

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

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

Government Stance on Ban

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