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

Allegations of “Bullying” and “Invasion of Privacy”

The disclosure came as the government was accused of “coercion” and “a breach of confidentiality” after demanding private medical information from parents of transgender children who are considering a further legal challenge to its controversial prohibition on hormone blockers.

Latest Government Order on Hormone Treatments

Last month, the state health minister, Tim Nicholls, enacted a new order banning the use of puberty blockers for transgender patients, shortly after the state’s supreme court determined the initial ban was unlawful.

Guardian Australia has interviewed several parents who have approached Nicholls for a official paper called a explanation of decision – a detailed account of why the government made a decision to ban hormone treatments in the state. By law, the document must be provided under the legal statute.

Demanded Health Information

All four were required by the health authorities for details of their child’s medical history, including “your child’s name, their date of birth and any other evidence which supports your child having a medical confirmation of gender identity disorder”.

The details were sought before the statement of reasons would be released.

The email, which has been reviewed by the media, also asked them to “please also confirm if your teen is a client of the Queensland Children’s Gender Clinic so that we can confirm the information provided with Children’s Health Queensland,” states the communication, which was dispatched recently.

Mothers Label Demand as Breach of Confidentiality

Each parent described the request as an violation of confidentiality.

One parent said she was hesitant to share the information because the authorities had accidentally sent her information to a different parent.

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

Situation of Louise*

The parent, who must remain anonymous because it would also identify or expose her teen, was one of several who asked for a explanation both times.

Earlier, the agency emailed a response meant for her to another parent, revealing her name and address – and the fact that she had a transgender child – to a third party. She said a department official later apologised over the phone; the Guardian has obtained an message from the department confirming the mistake.

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

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

“I respect that to my very being as much as humanly possible. The sole occasion I ever disclose is out of need for obtaining entry to supports and only to individuals I deem trustworthy and I know well.”

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

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

Other Mother Voices Worries

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

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

“To imagine that that information could inadvertently be disclosed someday, in any way, you know, even if that was unintentional, could be deeply, deeply distressing to him.”

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

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

“It’s such highly confidential information. You would not reveal, for instance, your medical condition to the government office, you know. You’d be very reluctant and very cautious to provide any of that information to a group of officials, basically.”

Advocacy Group Weighing Second Lawsuit

The LGBTI Legal Service, which assisted the parent in her challenge, was considering a new legal action, it said last week.

The head, Ren Shike, said the ruling had affected about hundreds of minors and their relatives and it was crucial to efficiently facilitate the provision of explanations so that children and their parents can comprehend the logic behind this ruling, which has had such a devastating impact on their medical care”.

Government Stance on Ban

The authorities has repeatedly said the prohibition would remain in place until a review into trans healthcare had been finished.