Douglas William Guthrie was educated at Bayfield School and later at Auckland Grammar School. He graduated from Otago Medical School in 1935. After house surgeon years at Auckland Hospital he came to England and passed his Final Fellowship exams in 1939. He returned to Auckland Hospital where he carried a very heavy workload during the second world war. He became the acting medical superintendent at Auckland Hospital and then superintendent at Green Lane Hospital and was the first chairman of the general surgical division of Auckland surgeons. Finally he returned to full-time surgery at Auckland Hospital until he retired. He enjoyed active, outdoor pursuits and, with the help of his family, built a two-storied house at Arran Bay. His interest in the sea led to the study of sea birds (in particular gannets) and he was the President of the Royal Forest and Bird Society, Auckland Branch. Guthrie died on 7 September 1981, after a long illness, survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters and eleven grandchildren.