Doctor changes her name after drink-driving incident

Anna Goodwin. Photo / Kellie Blizard

A distinguished American oncologist and fluoride opponent changed her name last year following a drink-driving incident in 2010.

Elizabeth Ann Lowenthal was discharged without conviction after submissions to the court about her value to the medical profession. She changed her name to Anna Macrae Goodwin on February 20 last year, nine days before she resigned from practicing in the public sector for the Waikato District Health Board.

She is now practicing at a private hospital and has recently emerged as a supporter of the anti-fluoride movement, speaking at a public meeting in Auckland last weekend.

Waikato DHB communications director Mary Anne Gill confirmed Goodwin resigned on February 29 last year, nine days after her name was officially changed. Goodwin, 49, said the name change was not related to the drink-driving charge.

"If I was at all motivated by my DUI, I would've changed it (her name) right after the event."

Dean of law at the University of Waikato, Professor Bradford Morse, said everyone had a legal right to change their name.

Convenor of the criminal law subcommittee at the New Zealand Law Society, Jonathan Krebs, said a person's previous name remained on record so if Goodwin was charged again, her earlier discharge would be apparent.

Goodwin said she changed her name for personal reasons including a divorce, because she was adopted, and because her previous last name didn't reflect her religion.

Lowenthal was a Jewish name, said Goodwin. "I don't have any Jewish blood."

She said she had been thinking about changing her last name to Goodwin since 2005, as it was the name of a dear friend who was unable to have children.

"I've done a whole lot of decent things in my life. I have a deep sense of shame of that (drink-driving) and I don't defend it, I own it. It's a small blight on a very responsible record in practising medicine," she said.

Hamilton District Court judge Arthur Tompkins had said a conviction would "preclude her from continuing to make the very significant contribution she has in the past made to oncological and palliative care needs".

Convenor of the criminal law committee at the Auckland District Law Society Marie Dyhrberg said it was likely Goodwin was trying to do well by her clients. She said the court "recognised her good work and treated her in a particular way in that she can continue her work", and a name change allowed her to do so.

Goodwin said she believed her change of name was being raised because Waikato Hospital was "aggravated that I opened a private practice and am speaking against them because they were bullying their staff about fluoride".