MEDITRUST OPERATING CO
S-3, 2000-02-04
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 4, 2000

                                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------

                                    FORM S-3
         JOINT REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                      <C>
                 MEDITRUST CORPORATION                                 MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY
        (Exact name of registrant as specified                   (Exact name of registrant as specified
               in governing instruments)                                in governing instruments)
                       DELAWARE                                                 DELAWARE
             (State or other jurisdiction                            (State or other jurisdiction of
           of incorporation or organization)                         incorporation or organization)
                      95-3520818                                               95-3419438
         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
              197 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 300                              197 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 100
         NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494                     NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494
                    (781) 433-6000                                           (781) 453-8062
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number       (Address, including zip code, and telephone number
    including area code, of Registrant's principal           including area code, of Registrant's principal
                  executive offices)                                       executive offices)
                   WILLIAM G. BYRNES                                        WILLIAM C. BAKER
         transitional Chief Executive Officer                                   President
                 MEDITRUST CORPORATION                                 MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY
              197 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 300                              197 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 100
         NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494                     NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494
                    (781) 433-6000                                           (781) 453-8062
   (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone        (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
                        number                                                   number
      including area code, of agent for service)               including area code, of agent for service)
</TABLE>

                           --------------------------

                          Copies of communications to:
                             GILBERT G. MENNA, P.C.
                             SCOTT F. DUGGAN, ESQ.
                          GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP
                                 EXCHANGE PLACE
                        BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109-2881
                                 (617) 570-1000
                           --------------------------

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

    If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /

    If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/

    If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /

    If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                                 AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
  TITLE OF PAIRED SHARES BEING REGISTERED         REGISTERED            SHARE(1)               PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                           <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of
  Meditrust Corporation paired with Common
  Stock, par value $.10 per share of              10,907,971             $3.3125            $36,132,654            $9,540
  Meditrust Operating Company
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant
    to Rule 457(c) based on the average of the high and low prices of the paired
    shares of the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of each of Meditrust
    Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company, as reported on the New York
    Stock Exchange on February 1, 2000.

    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.

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<PAGE>
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the joint registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
<PAGE>
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                             DATED FEBRUARY 4, 2000

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

                            10,907,971 PAIRED SHARES

                            THE MEDITRUST COMPANIES

                                  COMMON STOCK
                           (PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE)

                            ------------------------

    The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus may offer to sell up
to an aggregate of 10,907,971 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share,
of Meditrust Corporation, each of which is paired with common stock, par value
$.10 per share, of Meditrust Operating Company. The paired shares may be offered
and sold by the selling stockholders from time to time in transactions on the
New York Stock Exchange, in privately-negotiated transactions or a combination
of such methods of sale, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. The paired shares may be sold directly or
through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the
form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or
the purchasers of paired shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or
to whom they sell as principal or both (which compensation to a particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). We are filing this
joint registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, at this time
to fulfill a contractual obligation to do so, which we undertook at the time of
the original issuance of these paired shares. We will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of the paired shares by the selling stockholders, but we
have agreed to bear the expenses of registering such sale of the paired shares.

    Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"MT."

                            ------------------------

    INVESTING IN OUR PAIRED SHARES INVOLVES RISK. IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO
INVEST, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATTERS DISCUSSED UNDER "RISK FACTORS"
BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

                            ------------------------

    NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES, OR DETERMINED IF
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANY PERSON TO TELL
YOU OTHERWISE.

                The date of this prospectus is February 4, 2000
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    THIS SUMMARY ONLY HIGHLIGHTS THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING
ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
BECAUSE THIS IS A SUMMARY, IT MAY NOT CONTAIN ALL INFORMATION THAT IS IMPORTANT
TO YOU. YOU SHOULD READ THIS ENTIRE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER
TO INVEST IN THE PAIRED SHARES.

    UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES, ALL REFERENCES TO "WE," "US" OR "OUR"
IN THIS PROSPECTUS REFER GENERALLY TO MEDITRUST CORPORATION AND MEDITRUST
OPERATING COMPANY, COLLECTIVELY, THEIR SUBSIDIARIES AND RESPECTIVE PREDECESSOR
ENTITIES FOR THE APPLICABLE PERIODS, ALTHOUGH THE CONTEXT MAY, IN CERTAIN
SITUATIONS, REQUIRE THAT THESE WORDS REFER TO EITHER MEDITRUST CORPORATION OR
MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY INDIVIDUALLY.

                            ------------------------

                            THE MEDITRUST COMPANIES

    The Meditrust Companies consist of two separate companies, Meditrust
Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company, whose paired shares of common stock
trade as a single unit on the New York Stock Exchange pursuant to the terms of
our Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation. Meditrust Corporation is
a real estate investment trust and Meditrust Operating Company is a taxable
corporation. Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company were each
incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1979. As used herein, references to
"The Meditrust Companies" refer to Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust Operating
Company collectively.

    We maintain an organizational structure called a "paired share structure"
such that the paired shares of common stock of both companies trade and are
transferable as a single unit. The paired share structure allows our
stockholders to enjoy the economic benefits of owning both a company that owns
and leases real estate and a company that operates businesses that use real
estate. Currently, this structure generally permits the combined companies to
reduce the amount of payments to third parties who traditionally would operate
the businesses conducted on Meditrust Corporation's real estate for a fee
because Meditrust Operating Company is permitted to operate such businesses and
receive the operating and management fees that would otherwise be paid to the
third party. Recent legislation, however, substantially limits our ability to
use the paired share structure in the future.

    Meditrust Corporation's principal executive offices are located at 197 First
Avenue, Suite 300, Needham Heights, Massachusetts 02494, and the telephone
number is (781) 433-6000. Meditrust Operating Company's principal executive
offices are located at 197 First Avenue, Suite 100, Needham Heights,
Massachusetts 02494, and the telephone number is (781) 453-8062.

                                  THE OFFERING

    This prospectus relates to 10,907,971 paired shares of common stock of each
of Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company that the selling
stockholders may offer for sale from time to time. These paired shares of common
stock were issued to the selling stockholders in connection with our acquisition
of La Quinta Inns, Inc. on July 17, 1998.

    Registration of the sale of the paired shares covered by this prospectus
does not necessarily mean that all or any portion of the paired shares will be
offered for sale by the selling stockholders. We have agreed to bear the
expenses of the registration of the sale of the paired shares under federal and
state securities laws, but we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any
paired shares offered under this prospectus.

                      TAX STATUS OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION

    Meditrust Corporation qualifies as a real estate investment trust under
Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As
long as Meditrust Corporation qualifies for

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<PAGE>
taxation as a real estate investment trust, it generally will not be subject to
federal income tax on that portion of its ordinary income and capital gains that
is currently distributed to our stockholders. Even if Meditrust Corporation
qualifies for taxation as a real estate investment trust, we may be subject to
state and local taxes on our income and property and to federal income and
excise taxes on our undistributed income.

                                  RISK FACTORS

    Purchasers of paired shares should carefully consider the risk factors set
forth under the caption "Risk Factors," beginning on page 4, and the other
information included herein or incorporated by reference prior to making an
investment decision.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

    PRESENTED BELOW ARE RISK FACTORS THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WITH RESPECT TO AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE VARIOUS RISKS,
INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED BELOW, WHICH MAY MATERIALLY IMPACT YOUR INVESTMENT IN
OUR SECURITIES OR MAY IN THE FUTURE, AND, IN SOME CASES, ALREADY DO, MATERIALLY
AFFECT US AND OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. YOU
SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THESE RISK FACTORS. THIS SECTION INCLUDES OR REFERS TO
CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS; YOU SHOULD READ THE EXPLANATION OF THE
QUALIFICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCUSSED ON
PAGE 19.

OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS ON LODGING RELATED PROPERTIES EXPOSES INVESTORS TO RISKS
COMMON IN THAT INDUSTRY THAT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
SECURITIES.

    We have made a significant investment in lodging related facilities through
our acquisition of La Quinta Inns, Inc. La Quinta is operated by a subsidiary of
Meditrust Operating Company and its real estate assets are owned by Meditrust
Corporation or a subsidiary of Meditrust Corporation. The results of operations
of La Quinta hotels are subject to many factors, including:

    - changes in the national, regional and local general economic climate;

    - competition from comparable hotels;

    - the desirability of particular locations;

    - the quality, philosophy and performance of the lodging facility managers;

    - changes in room rates and increases in operating costs due to inflation;

    - the need to periodically repair the lodging facilities;

    - increases in travel expenses that reduce business and leisure travel; and

    - the relationship between supply of and demand for hotel rooms (an
      oversupply of hotel properties or a reduction in demand for hotel rooms).

    LA QUINTA OPERATES IN A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET.

    La Quinta hotels generally operate in markets that contain numerous
competitors, including a wide range of lodging facilities offering full-service,
limited-service and all-suite lodging options to the public. The continued
success of our hotels will be dependent, in large part, upon our ability to
compete in such areas as affordable and competitive room rates, quality of
accommodations, name recognition, service level and convenience of locations.
Additionally, an increasing supply of hotel rooms in La Quinta's market segment,
and recent consolidations in the lodging industry generally, have resulted in
the creation of several large, multi-branded hotel chains with diversified
operations and may adversely impact our business, financial condition and
results of operations. We cannot give assurances that demographic, geographic or
other changes in markets will not adversely affect the convenience or
desirability of the locations of our hotels. Furthermore, we cannot give
assurances that competing hotels will not provide greater competition for guests
than currently exists, in the markets in which our hotels operate, and that new
hotels will not enter such markets.

    OUR LODGING RELATED PROPERTIES ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONCENTRATED.

    La Quinta's hotels are concentrated in the western and southern regions of
the United States. As a result, our lodging properties are particularly
sensitive to adverse economic and competitive conditions and trends in those
regions and such conditions may specifically affect our cash available for
distribution to stockholders. The concentration of properties in one region may
expose us to risks of adverse economic developments which are greater than if
our portfolio were more geographically diverse.

                                       4
<PAGE>
    OUR LODGING RELATED BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE
EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION.

    The lodging business is subject to extensive federal, state and local
regulatory requirements, including building and zoning requirements, all of
which can prevent, delay, make uneconomical or significantly increase the cost
of developing additional lodging facilities. In addition, La Quinta's hotels and
Meditrust Operating Company are subject to laws governing their relationship
with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working
conditions, work permit requirements and discrimination claims. An increase in
the minimum wage rate, employee benefit costs or other costs associated with
employees could adversely affect us.

    FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS ARE COMMON IN THE LODGING INDUSTRY.

    The lodging industry may be adversely affected by, among other things:

    - changes in economic conditions,

    - changes in local market conditions,

    - oversupply of hotel rooms,

    - a reduction in demand for hotel space in specific areas,

    - changes in travel patterns,

    - weather conditions,

    - changes in governmental regulations that influence or determine wages,

    - prices or construction costs,

    - changes in interest rates,

    - the availability of financing for operating or capital needs and

    - changes in real estate tax rates and other operating expenses.

Room supply and demand historically have been sensitive to shifts in gross
domestic product growth, which has resulted in cyclical changes in average daily
room and occupancy rates. Due in part to the strong correlation between the
lodging industry's performance and economic conditions, the lodging industry is
subject to cyclical changes in revenues. In that regard, we cannot give
assurances that the recent strength in the lodging industry generally, or in the
segment of the industry in which we operate, will not decline in the future.
Furthermore, the lodging industry is seasonal in nature, with revenues typically
higher in summer periods than in winter periods.

    FLUCTUATIONS IN AND DIFFICULTY WITH LODGING CONSTRUCTION MAY HAVE AN ADVERSE
     AFFECT ON US.

    If La Quinta resumes its historical strategy of growing through new
construction, we may from time to time experience shortages of materials or
qualified tradespeople or volatile increases in the cost of certain construction
materials or labor, resulting in longer than normal construction and remodeling
periods, loss of revenue and increased costs. We will rely heavily on local
contractors, who may be inadequately capitalized or understaffed. The inability
or failure of one or more local contractors to perform may result in
construction or remodeling delays, increased cost and loss of revenue. The
foregoing factors could adversely affect La Quinta's operations which, in turn,
could materially adversely affect us and our ability to make distributions to
stockholders and to pay amounts due on our indebtedness.

                                       5
<PAGE>
    THE SEASONALITY OF THE LODGING INDUSTRY MAY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF MEDITRUST
CORPORATION'S LESSEES AND OPERATORS TO MAKE TIMELY RENT PAYMENTS.

    The seasonality of the lodging industry causes fluctuations in hotel
revenues and may, from time to time, affect either the amount of rent that
accrues under Meditrust Corporation's hotel leases or the ability of Meditrust
Corporation's lessees and operators to make timely rent payments under the
leases. A lessee's or operator's inability to make timely rent payments to
Meditrust Corporation could adversely affect our financial condition and ability
to service debt and make distributions to our stockholders.

MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S OWNERSHIP OF HEALTH CARE RELATED PROPERTIES EXPOSES
INVESTORS TO RISKS COMMON IN THAT INDUSTRY THAT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT AN
INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES.

    THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPERATING RISKS THAT COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON
MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S HEALTH CARE RELATED BUSINESS.

    One of Meditrust Corporation's primary businesses is that of buying,
selling, financing and leasing health care related properties. Operating risks
in this business include, among other things:

    - competition for tenants;

    - competition from other health care financing providers, a number of which
      may have greater marketing, financial and other resources and experience
      than us;

    - changes in government regulation of health care;

    - changes in the availability and cost of insurance coverage;

    - increases in operating costs due to inflation and other factors;

    - changes in interest rates;

    - the availability of financing; and

    - adverse effects on general and local economic conditions.

    EXTENSIVE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATION OF THE SKILLED NURSING
INDUSTRY MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF THIRD-PARTY OPERATORS OF MEDITRUST
CORPORATION'S HEALTH CARE PROPERTIES TO MAKE THEIR PAYMENTS.

    The skilled nursing businesses of the third-party operators of Meditrust
Corporation's health care related real estate, and the health care industry
generally, are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation
governing the licensing and conduct of operations at health care facilities,
certain capital expenditures, the quality of services provided, the manner in
which the services are provided, financial and other arrangements between health
care providers and reimbursement for services rendered. The failure of any
third-party operator to comply with such laws, requirements and regulations
could adversely affect its effectiveness in operating the facility or
facilities. Any such ineffectiveness could impair such operator's ability to
make payments to Meditrust Corporation and thereby adversely affect us.

    A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF INVESTMENT IN THE SKILLED NURSING INDUSTRY COMPOUNDS
THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INDUSTRY.

    As of September 30, 1999, skilled nursing facilities comprised 28.8% of
Meditrust Corporation's real estate investments. For the reasons mentioned in
the risk factor above, such a concentration in this type of facility could have
a material adverse effect on us.

    WE RELY HEAVILY ON THIRD-PARTY OPERATORS ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OF OUR
PROPERTIES.

    Third-party operators manage skilled nursing facilities on each of our
properties. Our financial position may be adversely affected by financial
difficulties experienced by any such operators, including the bankruptcy,
insolvency or general downturn in the business of any such operator, or in the
event

                                       6
<PAGE>
any such operator does not renew its leases as they expire and Meditrust
Corporation cannot lease these facilities to other operators on comparable
terms. In particular, Meditrust Corporation's investments in the facilities
operated by its two largest health care operators at September 30, 1999 amounts
to approximately 20% of its total real estate investments. Such a concentration
in these operators could have a material adverse effect on us.

    WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER INCREASED GOVERNMENT REGULATION IN THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY GENERALLY.

    The health care industry is subject to changing political, economic,
regulatory and demographic influences that may affect the operations of health
care facilities and providers. During the past several years, the health care
industry has been subject to changes in government regulation of many aspects of
the industry (for example, reimbursement rates and certain capital
expenditures). Some elected officials have announced that they intend to examine
certain aspects of the United States health care system, including proposals
which may further increase governmental involvement in health care. For example,
the President and Congress have in the past, and may in the future, propose
health care reforms which could impose additional regulations on Meditrust
Corporation and its operators or limit the amounts that operators may charge for
services. Meditrust Corporation's health care facility operators are, and will
continue to be, subject to varying degrees of regulation and licensing by health
or social service agencies and other regulatory authorities in the various
states and localities in which they operate or in which they will operate.

    RECENT SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CARE REFORM HAS, AND LIKELY WILL CONTINUE TO,
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

    The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which was signed by the President on
August 5, 1997, enacted significant changes to the Medicare and Medicaid
programs designed to modernize payment and health care delivery systems while
achieving substantial budgetary savings. In seeking to limit Medicare
reimbursement for skilled nursing services, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997
mandated the establishment of a prospective payment system for skilled nursing
facilities to replace the current cost-based reimbursement system. The
cost-based system reimburses skilled nursing facilities for reasonable direct
and indirect allowable costs incurred in providing "routine services" as well as
capital costs and ancillary costs, subject to limits fixed for the particular
geographic area served by the skilled nursing facility. Under the prospective
payment system, skilled nursing facilities will be paid a federal per diem rate
for covered services. The per diem payment will cover routine service,
ancillary, and capital-related costs. The prospective payment system is being
phased in over a four-year period beginning on or after July 1, 1998. Under
provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, states will be provided
additional flexibility in managing their Medicaid program. Among other things,
the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 repealed a federal payment standard, which had
required states to pay "reasonable and adequate" payments to cover the costs of
efficiently and economically operated hospitals, nursing facilities and certain
intermediate care facilities. We have no control over these federal
reimbursement rates, which may change periodically. Additionally, these health
care reforms may reduce reimbursement to levels that are insufficient to cover
the cost of providing patient care, which could adversely affect the revenues of
Meditrust Corporation's third-party borrowers and lessees. Such adverse effects
on Meditrust Corporation's third party borrowers may negatively impact those
borrowers' and lessees' abilities to make their loan or lease payments to
Meditrust Corporation. In fact, three of Meditrust Corporation's third party
operators have cited these health care reforms as the precipitating factor in
filing for bankruptcy protection. Failure of the borrowers or lessees to make
their loan or lease payments would have a direct and material adverse effect on
us.

    WE CANNOT GIVE ASSURANCES THAT THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT FOR MEDITRUST
CORPORATION'S OPERATORS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE.

    The cost of many of the services offered by the current operators of
Meditrust Corporation's health care facilities are reimbursed or paid for by
third-party payers such as Medicare and Medicaid

                                       7
<PAGE>
programs for elderly, low income and disabled patients and state Medicaid
programs for managed care organizations. No assurance can be given that such
third-party reimbursement to Meditrust Corporation's operators will continue to
be available or when reimbursement will be offered or that reimbursement rates
will not be reduced. The increase in the number of providers contracting to
provide per person fixed cost health care to a patient population has increased
pressure on third-party payers to lower costs.

    A significant portion of the revenue from the third-party operators who
lease or receive financing from Meditrust Corporation is derived from
governmentally funded reimbursement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
These programs are highly regulated and subject to frequent and substantial
changes resulting from legislation, adoption of rules and regulations, and
administrative and judicial interpretations of existing law. In recent years,
there have been fundamental changes in the Medicare program which have resulted
in reduced levels of payment for a substantial portion of health care services,
which Meditrust Corporation has no control over. Moreover, health care
facilities have experienced increasing pressures from private payers such as
health maintenance organizations attempting to control health care costs.
Reimbursement from private payers has in many cases effectively been reduced to
levels approaching those of government payers. Concern regarding health care
costs may result in significant reductions in payment to health care facilities,
and there can be no assurance that future payment rates from either governmental
or private health care plans will be sufficient to cover cost increases in
providing services to patients. In many instances, revenues from Medicaid
programs are already insufficient to cover the actual costs incurred in
providing care to those patients. Any changes in reimbursement policies which
reduce reimbursement to levels that are insufficient to cover the cost of
providing patient care could adversely affect revenues from the third-party
operators who lease or receive financing from Meditrust Corporation and thereby
adversely affect those entities' ability to make their lease or loan payments to
Meditrust Corporation. Failure of these entities to make their lease or loan
payments would have a direct and material adverse impact on us.

    A FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE MORE PREVALENT FRAUD AND ABUSE LAWS AND
GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM INTEGRITY REGULATIONS MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON
US.

    In the past several years, due to rising health care costs, there has been
an increased emphasis on detecting and eliminating fraud and abuse in the
Medicare and Medicaid programs. Federal and state statutes generally prohibit
payment of any remuneration to induce the referral of Medicare and Medicaid
patients. Both federal and state self-referral statutes severely restrict the
ability of physicians to refer patients to entities in which they have a
financial interest. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 provided the federal
government with expanded enforcement powers to combat waste, fraud and abuse in
the delivery of health care services. In addition, the Office of Inspector
General and the Health Care Financing Administration have increased
investigation and enforcement activity of fraud and abuse, specifically
targeting nursing homes, home health providers and medical equipment suppliers.
Failure to comply with the foregoing fraud and abuse laws or government program
integrity regulations may result in sanctions, including the loss of licensure
or eligibility to participate in reimbursement programs (including Medicare and
Medicaid), asset forfeitures and civil and criminal penalties.

    It is anticipated that the trend toward increased investigation and
informant activity in the area of fraud and abuse, as well as self-referral,
will continue in future years. In the event that any borrower or lessee of
Meditrust Corporation were to be found in violation of the applicable laws
regarding fraud, abuse or self-referral, that borrower's or lessee's license or
certification to participate in government reimbursement programs could be
jeopardized, or that borrower or lessee could be subject to civil and criminal
fines and penalties. Either of these occurrences could have a material adverse
affect on us by adversely affecting the borrower's or lessee's ability to make
debt or lease payments to Meditrust Corporation.

    The foregoing factors could adversely affect the ability of the operators of
Meditrust Corporation's health care facilities to generate revenues and make
payments to it. This, in turn, could materially

                                       8
<PAGE>
adversely affect us and our ability to make distributions to stockholders and to
pay amounts due on our indebtedness.

    IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE CONTINUOUSLY UP-TO-DATE WITH CURRENT INFORMATION
REGARDING THIRD-PARTY OPERATORS OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S HEALTH CARE
PROPERTIES.

    As of September 30, 1999, our health care portfolio comprised approximately
49% of Meditrust Corporation's total real estate investments. A private health
care company and Sun Healthcare currently operate approximately 20% of the total
real estate investments and 40% of the health care portfolio. Approximately 30%
of Meditrust Corporation's total real estate investments (approximately 58% of
the health care portfolio) are operated by companies in the skilled nursing
sector of the health care industry and 10% of Meditrust Corporation's total real
estate investments (approximately 22% of the health care portfolio) are operated
by companies in the assisted living sector of the health care industry.

    Meditrust Corporation monitors credit risk for our health care portfolio by
evaluating a combination of publicly available financial information,
information provided by the operators themselves and information otherwise
available to us. The financial condition and ability of these health care
operators to meet their rental and other obligations will, among other things,
have an impact on Meditrust Corporation's revenues, net income or loss, funds
available from operations and on our ability to make distributions to our
stockholders. The operations of the skilled nursing companies have been
negatively impacted by changes in Medicare reimbursement rates, increases in
labor costs, increases in their leverage and various other factors. In addition,
any failure by these operators to effectively conduct their operations could
have a material adverse effect on their business reputation or on their ability
to enlist and maintain patients in their facilities.

    Operators of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities are experiencing
fill-up periods of a longer duration, and are being impacted by concerns
regarding the potential of over-building, increased regulation and the use of
certain accounting practices. Accordingly, many of these operators have
pre-announced anticipated earnings shortfalls and have experienced a significant
decline in their stock prices. These factors have had a detrimental impact on
the liquidity of some assisted living operators, which has caused their growth
plans to decelerate and may have a negative effect on their operating cash
flows.

    THREE OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S HEALTH CARE FACILITY OPERATORS HAVE FILED
FOR BANKRUPTCY.

    Citing the effects of changes in government regulation relating to Medicare
reimbursement as the precipitating factor, Sun Healthcare filed for protection
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on October 14, 1999. As of
September 30, 1999, Meditrust Corporation had a portfolio of 42 properties
operated by Sun Healthcare, which consisted of 38 owned properties with net
assets of approximately $318 million and 4 mortgages with net assets of
approximately $31 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 1999,
income derived from these properties included rental income of $38 million from
owned properties and interest income of $3 million from mortgages.

    Sun Healthcare has not formally indicated whether it will accept or reject
any of Meditrust Corporation's leases. Sun Healthcare has indicated, however,
that they will continue to make lease payments to Meditrust Corporation unless
and until such leases are rejected. If necessary, Meditrust Corporation has a
plan in place to transition and to continue operating any of such rejected Sun
Healthcare properties. Since October 1999, Meditrust Corporation has not
received interest payments related to the mortgages. Accordingly, such mortgages
have been put on non-accrual status.

    Should Sun Healthcare reject certain leases and revise lease terms for the
respective facilities, Meditrust Corporation's cash flows, revenues and results
of operations may be impacted and these amounts may be material. Management is
not currently able to predict the outcome of the Sun Healthcare bankruptcy or
the related impact on Meditrust Corporation's cash flows, revenues or results of
operations.

                                       9
<PAGE>
    Citing reasons similar to Sun Healthcare, Mariner Health Group, Inc. and
Integrated Health Services, Inc. also filed for protection under Chapter 11 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on January 18, 2000 and February 2, 2000, respectively.
As of September 30, 1999, Meditrust Corporation had a portfolio of two
properties operated by Mariner, which consisted of one owned property with net
assets of approximately $8 million and one mortgage with net assets of
approximately $7 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 1999, we
derived interest and rental income from the Mariner properties of approximately
$1.5 million. As of September 30, 1999, Integrated Health Services operated 10
of Meditrust Corporation's owned properties that had a book value of
approximately $39 million in the aggregate. During the nine months ended
September 30, 1999, we derived approximately $6.6 million in rental income from
the Integrated Health Services properties.

OUR SUBSTANTIAL DEBT, AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS OTHER RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DEBT
AND PREFERRED STOCK FINANCING, COULD RESULT IN ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES FOR US.

    WE ARE DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL SOURCES OF CAPITAL.

    To qualify as a real estate investment trust, Meditrust Corporation must
distribute to its stockholders each year at least 95% of Meditrust Corporation's
net taxable income (90% commencing in 2001), excluding any net capital gain.
Because of these distribution requirements, it is not likely that Meditrust
Corporation will be able to fund all future capital needs, including capital
required for potential acquisitions, from income from operations. Meditrust
Corporation, therefore, will have to rely on third-party sources of capital,
which may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Meditrust
Corporation's access to third-party sources of capital depends upon a number of
factors, including general market conditions, the market's perception of
Meditrust Corporation's growth potential, Meditrust Corporation's current and
potential future earnings and cash distributions and the market price of
Meditrust Corporation's common stock. Moreover, additional equity offerings may
result in substantial dilution of stockholders' interests, and additional debt
financing may substantially further leverage Meditrust Corporation.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION IS SUBSTANTIALLY LEVERAGED.

    Meditrust Corporation's debt-to-total market capitalization ratio was
approximately 49% as of September 30, 1999. Meditrust Operating Company, as a
guarantor under Meditrust Corporation's credit facility, is also substantially
leveraged. This degree of debt could have important consequences for investors
and for us, some of which include:

    - our ability to obtain additional financing may be impaired, both currently
      and in the future;

    - a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be dedicated
      to the payment of principal and interest on this indebtedness, thereby
      reducing the funds available for other purposes;

    - our cash flow may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal,
      interest or dividends;

    - we may be substantially more leveraged than our competitors, putting us at
      a competitive disadvantage; and

    - our flexibility to adjust to market conditions is limited, leaving us
      vulnerable in a downturn in general economic conditions or in our
      business.

    Despite our plan to decrease the amount of our debt as announced on
January 28, 2000 in our plan of reorganization, we cannot make assurances that
we will be able to repay enough debt to successfully deleverage.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    MEDITRUST CORPORATION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW, REPAY OR REFINANCE WHEN DUE
THE INDEBTEDNESS ON OUR PROPERTIES OR UNSECURED INDEBTEDNESS OR THE TERMS OF ANY
RENEWAL OR REFINANCING WILL NOT BE AS FAVORABLE AS THE TERMS OF SUCH ORIGINAL
INDEBTEDNESS.

    If Meditrust Corporation were unable to refinance the indebtedness on
acceptable terms, or at all, we may be forced to dispose of one or more of our
properties on disadvantageous terms, which might result in losses, which losses
could have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions
to stockholders and to pay amounts due on such indebtedness. Meditrust
Corporation has $207 million in term debt that will mature in July 2000 and an
additional $1.4 billion in debt that matures in 2001. If a property is mortgaged
to secure payment of indebtedness and Meditrust Corporation is unable to meet
mortgage payments, the mortgagee could foreclose upon the property, appoint a
receiver and receive an assignment of rents and leases or pursue other remedies,
all with a consequent loss of revenues and asset value to us. Foreclosures could
also create taxable income without accompanying cash proceeds, thereby hindering
Meditrust Corporation's ability to meet the real estate investment trust
distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.

    WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INDEBTEDNESS THAT BEARS INTEREST
     AT VARIABLE RATES.

    We have incurred, and expect in the future to incur, indebtedness which
bears interest at variable rates. Accordingly, increases in interest rates would
increase our interest costs (to the extent that the related indebtedness was not
protected by interest rate protection arrangements), which could have a material
adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to stockholders and
to pay amounts due on our indebtedness or cause us to be in default under
certain debt instruments. In addition, an increase in market interest rates may
lead our stockholders to demand a higher yield on their paired shares from our
distributions, which could adversely affect the market price for the paired
shares and could also adversely affect the market price of any preferred stock
issued by either or both of The Meditrust Companies.

MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S REAL PROPERTY INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE MANY
VARYING TYPES AND DEGREES OF RISK INHERENT IN OWNING REAL ESTATE AND THAT MAY
AFFECT THE VALUE OF OUR ASSETS AND OUR ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE, NET INCOME
AND CASH AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS.

    THE ILLIQUIDITY OF REAL ESTATE AS AN INVESTMENT LIMITS MEDITRUST
CORPORATION'S ABILITY TO SELL PROPERTIES QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO MARKET
CONDITIONS.

    Real estate investments are relatively illiquid and therefore cannot be
purchased or sold rapidly in response to changes in economic or other
conditions. Buyers may not be identified quickly or such buyers may not be able
to secure suitable financing to consummate a transaction. In addition, the
Internal Revenue Code limits Meditrust Corporation's ability as a real estate
investment trust to make sales of properties held for fewer than four years.
Furthermore, sales of certain appreciated property could generate material
adverse tax consequences, which may affect Meditrust Corporation's ability to
sell properties in response to market conditions and adversely affect returns to
stockholders. Consequently, there can be no assurances that we will be able to
accomplish an orderly disposition of a significant portion of the health care
assets as announced on January 28, 2000.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION DEPENDS AND RELIES ON THE ABILITY AND SUCCESS OF THOSE
WHO OPERATE, MANAGE, LEASE AND MAINTAIN OUR PROPERTIES.

    Federal income tax law restricts real estate investment trusts from deriving
revenues directly from operating their properties. Thus, the underlying value of
Meditrust Corporation's real estate investments, results of operations and
ability to make distributions to stockholders and pay amounts due on
indebtedness depends on the ability of the operators, managers, lessees and
Meditrust Operating Company to operate Meditrust Corporation's properties in a
manner sufficient to maintain or increase revenues and to generate sufficient
revenues in excess of operating expenses to make rent payments under their
leases or loan payments in respect of their loans from Meditrust Corporation.

                                       11
<PAGE>
    THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S PROPERTIES MAY BE
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS OUTSIDE OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S CONTROL.

    Results of operations of Meditrust Corporation's properties may also be
adversely affected by, among other things:

    - changes in national economic conditions, changes in local market
      conditions due to changes in general or local economic conditions and
      neighborhood characteristics;

    - changes in interest rates and in the availability, cost and terms of
      financing;

    - the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance
      with environmental laws and other regulatory requirements;

    - the ongoing need for capital improvements, particularly in older
      structures;

    - changes in real estate tax rates and assessments and other operating
      expenses;

    - adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies;

    - adverse changes in zoning and other land use laws; and

    - civil unrest, earthquakes and other natural disasters (which may result in
      uninsured losses) and other factors which are beyond our control.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION DEPENDS ON THE RENTAL INCOME FROM OUR REAL PROPERTY.

    Meditrust Corporation's cash flow, results of operations and the value of
our assets would be adversely affected if a significant number of third-party
operators of our properties failed to meet their lease obligations. These lease
payments are one of Meditrust Corporation's principal sources of revenue.

    The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major operator may have an adverse effect
on a property. At any time, an operator also may seek protection under the
bankruptcy laws, which could result in rejection and termination of such
operator's lease and thereby cause a reduction in the cash flow from the
property. We have no control over such reduction and cannot assure investors
that any of our third-party operators will have sufficient assets, income, and
access to financing to enable them to satisfy their obligations under any such
lease. If an operator rejects its lease, the owner's claim for breach of the
lease would (absent collateral securing the claim) be treated as a general
unsecured claim. Generally, the amount of the claim would be capped at the
amount owed for unpaid pre-petition lease payments unrelated to the rejection,
plus the greater of one year's lease payments or 150% of the remaining lease
payments payable under the lease (but not to exceed the amount of three years'
lease payments).

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S OPERATING COSTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE OBLIGATION TO
PAY FOR THE COST OF COMPLYING WITH EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, ORDINANCES AND
REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS THE COST OF COMPLYING WITH FUTURE LEGISLATION.

    Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and
regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be
liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances
on or under the property. Environmental laws often impose liability whether or
not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such
hazardous or toxic substances and whether or not such substances originated from
the property. In addition, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances, or the
failure to remediate such property properly, may adversely affect our ability to
use such real property as collateral in borrowing.

    Persons who arrange for the transportation, disposal or treatment of
hazardous or toxic substances may also be liable for the costs of removal or
remediation of such substances at the disposal or treatment facility, whether or
not such facility is or ever was owned or operated by such person.

                                       12
<PAGE>
Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose
liability for releases of hazardous materials, including asbestos-containing
materials, into the environment. In addition, third parties may seek recovery
from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with
exposure to released asbestos-containing materials or other hazardous materials.
Environmental laws may also impose restrictions on the use or transfer of
property, and these restrictions may require various expenditures by Meditrust
Corporation. In connection with the ownership and operation of any of Meditrust
Corporation's properties, we (and the other lessees or operators of these
properties) may be liable for any such costs. The cost of defending against
claims of liability or remediating contaminated property and the cost of
complying with environmental laws could materially adversely affect us and our
ability to make distributions to stockholders and to pay amounts due on our
indebtedness.

    OUR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 WOULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON US AND OUR
ABILITY TO MAKE DISTRIBUTIONS TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS AND TO PAY AMOUNTS DUE ON OUR
INDEBTEDNESS, OUR BUSINESS AND OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

    Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, all public accommodations
are required to meet certain federal requirements related to access and use by
disabled persons. A determination that we are not in compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act could result in the imposition of fines and/or
an award of damages to private litigants. If we were required to make
modifications to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, there could be
a material adverse effect on us and our ability to make distributions to
stockholders and to pay amounts due on our indebtedness.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PROPER INSURANCE ON
OUR PROPERTIES WOULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON US.

    Meditrust Corporation is directly responsible for insuring our lodging
related properties. Additionally, each of Meditrust Corporation's leases and
mortgage loans typically specifies that comprehensive insurance is to be
maintained on each of the applicable properties, including liability, fire and
extended coverage. Leases and loan documents for new investments (including
those leased to Meditrust Operating Company) typically contain similar
provisions. There are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic
nature, such as earthquakes and floods, that may be uninsurable or not
economically insurable. We will use our discretion in determining amounts,
coverage limits and deductibility provisions of insurance, with a view to
maintaining appropriate insurance coverage on our investments at a reasonable
cost and on suitable terms. This may result in insurance coverage that, in the
event of a substantial loss, would not be sufficient to pay the full current
market value or current replacement cost of the lost investment and also may
result in certain losses being totally uninsured. Inflation, changes in building
codes, zoning or other land use ordinances, environmental considerations, lender
imposed restrictions and other factors also might make it infeasible to use
insurance proceeds to replace the property after such property has been damaged
or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds, if any, received
by Meditrust Corporation might not be adequate to restore our economic position
with respect to such property.

AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES MAY HAVE ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THE
INVESTOR.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
COULD HAVE SERIOUS ADVERSE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.

    Meditrust Corporation operates, and intends to continue to operate in the
future, so as to qualify as a real estate investment trust for federal income
tax purposes. Meditrust Corporation believes that it has operated in a manner
that permits it to qualify as a real estate investment trust under the Internal
Revenue Code. Qualification as a real estate investment trust, however, involves
the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code for which there are only limited judicial or administrative
interpretations. The complexity of these provisions is greater in the case of a
paired share real estate investment trust. In addition, real estate investment
trust qualification involves

                                       13
<PAGE>
the determination of factual matters and circumstances not entirely within our
control. For example, in order to qualify as a real estate investment trust,
Meditrust Corporation must derive at least 95% of its gross income in any year
from qualifying sources and Meditrust Corporation must distribute annually to
stockholders 95% (90% commencing in 2001) of its real estate investment trust
taxable income, excluding net taxable gains.

    As a result, although we believe Meditrust Corporation is organized and
operating in a manner that permits it to remain qualified as a real estate
investment trust, we cannot guarantee that Meditrust Corporation will be able to
continue to operate in such a manner. In addition, if we are ever audited by the
Internal Revenue Service with respect to any past year, the Internal Revenue
Service may challenge Meditrust Corporation's qualification as a real estate
investment trust for such year.

    If Meditrust Corporation were to fail to qualify as a real estate investment
trust, it would be subject to federal income tax (including any applicable
alternative minimum tax) on its taxable income at regular corporate rates. Such
failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust would result in additional
tax liability for the year or years involved. This additional tax could
significantly reduce, or possibly eliminate, the amount of cash Meditrust
Corporation would have available for investment or distribution to stockholders.
In addition, the failure to qualify as a real estate investment trust would
also:

    - constitute a default under certain of our debt obligations, which would
      generally allow the holders thereof to demand the immediate repayment of
      such indebtedness, and

    - significantly reduce the market value of our stock.

Each of these possible outcomes could have a material adverse effect on us.

    RECENT LEGISLATION HAS CURBED THE USE OF THE PAIRED SHARE STRUCTURE.

    Meditrust Corporation's ability to qualify as a real estate investment trust
is further dependent upon its continued exemption from the anti-pairing rules of
Section 269B(a)(3) of the Code, which would ordinarily prevent it from
qualifying as a real estate investment trust. Subject to the discussion below
regarding recent legislation, the "grandfathering" rules governing Section 269B
generally provide that Section 269B(a)(3) does not apply to a paired share real
estate investment trust if the real estate investment trust and its paired
operating company were paired on June 30, 1983. On June 30, 1983, Meditrust
Corporation (then known as Santa Anita Enterprises, Inc.) was paired with the
Meditrust Operating Company (which was then known as Santa Anita Operating
Company). There are, however, no judicial or administrative authorities
interpreting this "grandfathering" rule. Moreover, if for any reason Meditrust
Corporation failed to qualify as a real estate investment trust in 1983, the
benefit of the "grandfathering" rule would not be available to it, in which case
Meditrust Corporation would not qualify as a real estate investment trust for
any taxable year from and after 1983. Such failure to qualify as a real estate
investment trust would have a material adverse effect on us and our ability to
make distributions to our stockholders and to pay amounts due on our
indebtedness.

    On July 22, 1998, the President signed into law the Internal Revenue Service
Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. Included in the Reform Act is a freeze on
the grandfathered status of paired share real estate investment trusts. Under
this legislation, the anti-pairing rules provided in the Internal Revenue Code
apply to real property interests we acquired after March 26, 1998, or acquired
by a subsidiary or partnership in which a 10% or greater interest we own,
unless:

    - the real property interests are acquired pursuant to a written agreement
      that was binding on March 26, 1998 and at all times thereafter, or

    - the acquisition of such real property interests was described in a public
      announcement or in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
      or before March 26, 1998.

                                       14
<PAGE>
    These restrictions on the activities of a grandfathered paired share real
estate investment trust provided for in the Reform Act may in the future make it
impractical or undesirable for us to continue to maintain our paired share
structure. Restructuring our operations to comply with the rules provided by the
Reform Act could cause us to incur tax liabilities, to recognize an impairment
loss on their goodwill assets, or otherwise materially adversely affect us and
our ability to make distributions to stockholders and to pay amounts due on our
indebtedness.

    WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER CHANGES IN LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE
INTERPRETATIONS OR COURT DECISIONS.

    We can give no assurances that new legislation, regulations, administrative
interpretations or court decisions will not change the tax law with respect to
qualification as a real estate investment trust and the federal income tax
consequence of such qualification. Such legislation, regulations, administrative
interpretations or court decisions could have a material adverse effect on us
and our ability to make distributions to stockholders and to pay amounts due on
our indebtedness. In addition, this type of legislation could prevent us from
growing as originally intended.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION IS SUBJECT TO SOME TAXES EVEN IF IT QUALIFIES AS A
     REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST.

    Even if Meditrust Corporation qualifies as a real estate investment trust,
it is subject to some federal, state and local taxes on its income and property.
For example, Meditrust Corporation pays taxes on certain income it does not
distribute. Also, Meditrust Corporation's income derived from properties located
in some states are subject to local taxes and, if Meditrust Corporation enters
into transactions which the Internal Revenue Code labels as "prohibited
transactions," Meditrust Corporation's net income from such transactions would
be subject to a 100% tax.

THE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS MAY RESULT IN
ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES TO INVESTORS.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO TAXES IN CONNECTION WITH THE
DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS ACQUIRED IN ACQUISITIONS.

    In order to qualify as a real estate investment trust, Meditrust Corporation
is generally required each year to distribute to its stockholders at least 95%
(90% commencing in 2001) of its taxable income, excluding any net capital gain.
In addition, if Meditrust Corporation was to dispose of assets acquired in
certain acquisitions during the ten-year period following the acquisition, it
would be required to distribute at least 95% (90% commencing in 2001) of the
amount of any "built-in gain" attributable to such assets that Meditrust
Corporation recognizes in the disposition, less the amount of any tax paid with
respect to such recognized built-in gain. Meditrust Corporation generally is
subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the amount, if any, by which certain
distributions paid by Meditrust Corporation with respect to any calendar year
are less than the sum of:

    - 85% of Meditrust Corporation's ordinary income for that year,

    - 95% of Meditrust Corporation's capital gain net income for that year, and

    - 100% of Meditrust Corporation's undistributed income from prior years.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION MAY NEED TO BORROW MONEY TO MEET ITS MINIMUM
DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS AND TO CONTINUE TO QUALIFY AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
TRUST.

    Meditrust Corporation's ability to make distributions to stockholders could
be adversely affected by increased debt service obligations if it needs to
borrow money in order to maintain its real estate investment trust
qualification. For example, differences in timing between when Meditrust
Corporation receives income and when it has to pay expenses could require
Meditrust Corporation to borrow money to meet the requirement that Meditrust
Corporation distributes to its stockholders at least 95% (90% commencing in
2001) of its net taxable income each year excluding net capital gains. The
incurrence of

                                       15
<PAGE>
large expenses also could cause Meditrust Corporation to need to borrow money to
meet this requirement. Meditrust Corporation might need to borrow money for
these purposes even if we believe that market conditions are not favorable for
such borrowings and, therefore, we may borrow money on unfavorable terms.

    MEDITRUST CORPORATION'S FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS AND CASH DISTRIBUTIONS MAY
AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR PUBLICLY TRADED SECURITIES.

    We believe that the market value of a real estate investment trust's equity
securities is based primarily upon the market's perception of the real estate
investment trust's growth potential, including its prospects for accretive
acquisitions and development and its current and potential future cash
distributions, and is secondarily based upon the real estate market value of the
underlying assets. For that reason, our common stock may trade at prices that
are higher or lower than the net asset value per share. To the extent Meditrust
Corporation retains operating cash flow for investment purposes, working capital
reserves or other purposes, these retained funds, while increasing the value of
our underlying assets, may not correspondingly increase the market price of our
common stock. Meditrust Corporation's failure to meet the market's expectations
with regard to future funds from operations and cash distributions would likely
adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded securities.

    MARKET INTEREST RATES MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE VALUE OF OUR PUBLICLY TRADED
SECURITIES.

    One of the factors that investors consider important in deciding whether to
buy or sell shares of a real estate investment trust is the distribution rate on
such shares, as a percentage of the price of such shares relative to market
interest rates. If market interest rates go up, prospective purchasers of our
equity securities may expect a higher dividend yield. Higher interest rates
would not, however, result in more funds for Meditrust Corporation to distribute
and, in fact, would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease
cash available for distribution to the extent that our indebtedness has floating
interest rates. Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price
of our publicly traded securities to go down.

PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTERS AND BYLAWS COULD INHIBIT CHANGES IN CONTROL THAT
COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS.

    Certain provisions of our charters and bylaws may delay or prevent a change
in control or other transaction that could provide our stockholders with a
premium over the then-prevailing market price of their paired shares or which
might otherwise be in their best interests. These include a staggered Board of
Directors as well as the ownership limitations in each of our respective Amended
and Restated Certificates of Incorporation.

WE DEPEND ON OUR KEY PERSONNEL.

    We depend on the efforts of our executive officers and other key personnel.
While we believe that we could find replacements for these key personnel, the
loss of their services could have a significant adverse effect on our
operations.

WE CANNOT GIVE ASSURANCES THAT NO FURTHER RISKS REMAIN WITH RESPECT TO THE YEAR
2000.

    Although at this point we have not identified any specific business
functions that have suffered any material disruptions as a result of Year 2000
events, We cannot give assurances that there is not risk of Year 2000 related
disruptions in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on us.

                                       16
<PAGE>
                             ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

    This prospectus is part of a joint registration statement on Form S-3 that
we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do
not contain all of the information included in the joint registration statement.
For further information, we refer you to the joint registration statement,
including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus and any
accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any
agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules and regulations require that such agreement or
document be filed as an exhibit to the joint registration statement, please see
such agreement or document for a complete description of these matters.

    This prospectus provides you with a general description of the offered
paired shares. Each time a selling stockholder sells any of the offered paired
shares, the selling stockholder will provide you with this prospectus and a
prospectus supplement, if applicable, that will contain specific information
about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update
or change any information contained in this prospectus. You should read both
this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional
information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

    We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy
any document we file at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public
reference rooms in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, and New York, New York.
Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information about the public reference rooms. Our Securities and Exchange
Commission filings are also available to the public from the Securities and
Exchange Commission's Web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may look
at our Securities and Exchange Commission filings at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange, which is located at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Our Securities and Exchange Commission filings are available at the New York
Stock Exchange because our common stock is listed and traded on the New York
Stock Exchange.

    The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by reference
the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to these documents. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and
information that we file later with the Securities and Exchange Commission will
automatically update and supersede the information already incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We are incorporating by reference the documents
listed below, which we have already filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and any future filings we make with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 until the selling stockholders sell all of the securities.

THE MEDITRUST COMPANIES JOINT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FILINGS

(FILE NOS. 001-08131 AND 001-08132)

    - Our Joint Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998
      (filed March 31, 1999) and on Form 10-K/A (filed April 30, 1999);

    - Our Joint Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
      March 31, 1999 (filed May 13, 1999), the six months ended June 30, 1999
      (filed July 29, 1999), and the nine months ended September 30, 1999 (filed
      November 12, 1999); and

                                       17
<PAGE>
    - Our Joint Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission on April 15, 1999, May 12, 1999, May 26, 1999, and
      February 1, 2000.

    In addition, we are incorporating by reference the descriptions of our
paired shares from a registration statement we have previously filed under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports
filed for the purpose of updating these descriptions.

    YOU MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THESE FILINGS, AND ANY EXHIBITS THAT WE HAVE
SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AT NO
COST BY WRITING OR TELEPHONING US. REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED,
WITH RESPECT TO MEDITRUST CORPORATION, TO 197 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 300, NEEDHAM
HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494, ATTENTION: SECRETARY, OR BY TELEPHONE TO
(781) 433-6000; AND WITH RESPECT TO MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY, TO 197 FIRST
AVENUE, SUITE 100, NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS 02494, ATTENTION: SECRETARY,
OR BY TELEPHONE TO (781) 453-8062.

    You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the
selling stockholders have authorized anyone else to provide you with different
information. The selling stockholders are not making an offer of these
securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on
the front of this prospectus or those documents.

                                       18
<PAGE>
                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify forward-looking statements by
the use of the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate,"
"assume" and other similar expressions which predict or indicate future events
and trends and which do not relate to historical matters. These statements
include, among other things, statements regarding our intent, belief or
expectations with respect to:

    - our implementation of our strategic reorganization plan announced
      January 28, 2000;

    - our declaration, payment or suspension of distributions;

    - our potential developments or acquisitions or dispositions of properties,
      assets or other public or private companies;

    - the anticipated operating performance of our facilities;

    - our policies regarding investments, indebtedness, acquisitions,
      dispositions, financings, conflicts of interest and other matters;

    - our qualification as a real estate investment trust under the Internal
      Revenue Code;

    - the real estate markets in the Southeast, Southwest, Mid-Atlantic and
      Midwest regions of the United States and in general;

    - the availability of debt and equity financing;

    - interest rates;

    - general economic conditions;

    - trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; and

    - the implementation of our plan to address Year 2000 issues.

    You should not rely on forward-looking statements because they involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our
control. These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual
results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the
anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that might cause these
differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

    - we may not be able to sufficiently reduce our level of indebtedness;

    - we may fail to secure or may abandon development opportunities;

    - we may be unable to implement an orderly disposition of our health care
      assets as announced on January 28, 2000;

    - we may be unable to find buyers for our health care assets or such buyers
      may be unable to secure suitable financing;

    - construction and lease-up may not be completed on schedule due to weather
      conditions, unavailability of materials or other delays, resulting in
      increased debt service expense and construction costs and reduced rental
      revenues;

    - occupancy rates and market rents may be adversely affected by local
      economic and market conditions which are beyond our control, including
      competition;

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<PAGE>
    - financing may not be available to us, or may not be available on favorable
      terms;

    - our cash flow may be insufficient to meet required payments of principal
      and interest;

    - our existing indebtedness may mature in an unfavorable credit environment,
      preventing such indebtedness from being refinanced, or, if refinanced,
      causing such refinancing to occur on terms that are not as favorable as
      the terms of the existing indebtedness;

    - legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the
      taxation of real estate investment trusts;

    - material adverse effects to the business and financial condition, such as
      bankruptcy, of third-party operators of our properties may negatively
      impact our cash flow and financial condition;

    - we may experience unanticipated difficulties and interruptions due to
      failures regarding Year 2000 compliance;

    - our business partners, including our primary bank and payroll processor,
      vendors of our computer information systems or third party service
      providers, may experience unanticipated difficulties and interruptions due
      to failures regarding Year 2000 compliance; and

    - generally accepted accounting principles, policies and guidelines
      applicable to real estate investment trusts.

In addition, the factors described under "Risk Factors" in this prospectus may
result in these differences. You should carefully review all of these factors,
and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these
differences.

    We caution you that, while forward-looking statements reflect our estimates
and beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. These
forward-looking statements were based on information, plans and estimates at the
date of this prospectus, and we do not promise to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new
information, future events or other changes.

                                       20
<PAGE>
                            THE MEDITRUST COMPANIES

GENERAL

    The Meditrust Companies consist of two separate companies, Meditrust
Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company, whose paired shares of common stock
trade as a single unit (symbol: MT) on the New York Stock Exchange pursuant to
the terms of their respective Amended and Restated Certificates of
Incorporation. Meditrust Corporation is a real estate investment trust and
Meditrust Operating Company is a taxable corporation. Meditrust Corporation and
Meditrust Operating Company were each incorporated in the State of Delaware in
1979. As used herein, the terms "Meditrust Corporation" and "Meditrust Operating
Company" include wholly owned subsidiaries of Meditrust Corporation and
Meditrust Operating Company unless the context requires otherwise.

    The Meditrust Companies maintain an organizational structure called a
"paired share structure" such that the paired shares of common stock of both
companies trade and are transferable as a single unit. A predecessor of
Meditrust Corporation ("Meditrust's Predecessor"), which was organized as a
Massachusetts business trust and was known as "Meditrust", acquired the paired
share structure in 1997 by acquiring, together with an affiliate of Meditrust's
Predecessor, Santa Anita Realty Enterprises Inc. and Santa Anita Operating
Company (collectively, the "Santa Anita Companies"). The Santa Anita Companies
had operated under the paired share structure since 1979. The paired share
structure permits our stockholders to enjoy the economic benefits of owning a
company that owns and leases real estate, namely Meditrust Corporation, and a
company that operates a business that uses real estate, namely Meditrust
Operating Company. The benefits attributable to the future use of the paired
share structure have been limited, however, by federal legislation adopted in
July 1998.

MEDITRUST CORPORATION

    Meditrust Corporation invests in real estate in two principal areas: health
care related real property and lodging facilities. As a real estate investment
trust, Meditrust Corporation is not permitted to operate the businesses
conducted at or on the real estate that it owns. Rather, Meditrust Corporation
must lease its properties to the operators of the businesses. In the case of its
health care related real properties, Meditrust Corporation either leases
facilities that it owns or invests in, or provides financing to, third-party
operators principally of long-term care, retirement and assisted living
facilities and medical office buildings. In the case of its lodging facilities,
Meditrust Corporation owns, maintains leasehold interest in or invests in real
estate that it leases to Meditrust Operating Company. As more fully described
below, Meditrust Operating Company operates the lodging business conducted on
the real estate that it leases from Meditrust Corporation.

MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY

    Meditrust Operating Company operates the lodging related real estate owned
by Meditrust Corporation. Meditrust Operating Company does not conduct any
activities related to Meditrust Corporation's health care related real estate.
The lodging portion of Meditrust Operating Company's business is conducted under
the La Quinta brand name and is presently headquartered in Dallas, Texas. As
more fully described below, we acquired the La Quinta brand name, lodging
facilities and operations in July 1998.

DIVISIONS

    We conduct our businesses and make our investments through two principal
divisions: health care related real estate and lodging. As described above,
Meditrust Operating Company does not conduct any operations in the health care
related real estate business. Rather, this segment, which is headquartered in
Needham Heights, Massachusetts at our headquarters, is conducted solely through
Meditrust Corporation. The lodging business, which is conducted through the La
Quinta division,

                                       21
<PAGE>
consists of real estate assets owned by Meditrust Corporation and lodging
operations performed by Meditrust Operating Company.

    As of September 30, 1999, Meditrust Corporation owned, invested in and
provided financing for 387 geographically dispersed health care facilities
operated by 27 different third-party operators. As of September 30, 1999,
Meditrust Corporation managed 43 medical office buildings, including all the
medical office buildings owned by Meditrust Corporation. As described below,
since 1998, we have been selling our interests in certain health care
properties.

    The Meditrust Companies' lodging business is conducted under the La Quinta
brand name. As of January 31, 2000, the La Quinta division owned and operated an
aggregate of 232 La Quinta Inns and 70 La Quinta Inns & Suites in 28 states with
over 39,000 hotel rooms. La Quinta is a recognized brand name in the mid-priced
lodging segment that appeals to many business travelers. Meditrust Corporation
acquired La Quinta Inns, Inc. and its subsidiaries and its unincorporated
partnership and joint venture entities (collectively, "La Quinta") on July 17,
1998 by merging La Quinta Inns, Inc. into Meditrust Corporation (the "La Quinta
Merger"). Immediately prior to the La Quinta Merger, La Quinta transferred all
of its assets other than its real estate and brand name assets to Meditrust
Operating Company to enable Meditrust Operating Company to conduct the operating
portion of La Quinta's business.

    La Quinta, which is a fully-integrated lodging company that focuses on the
ownership, operation and development of mid-priced hotels in the western and
southern regions of the Untied States, has continued to operate as an
independent division from its headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

    On January 28, 2000, we announced a five-point plan of reorganization to
improve our overall financial condition by substantially deleveraging The
Meditrust Companies. Under the announced plan, we will generate funds from an
orderly sale of our health care assets and suspension of our common share
dividend in order to repay debt and strengthen our balance sheet. Such assets
sales will also reposition us to focus on our lodging business to benefit from
the improving trends in this industry and minimize the impact on us of negative
trends in the assisted living and nursing home industries.

MEDITRUST CORPORATION INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT AN ORDERLY DISPOSITION OF A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS HEALTH CARE ASSETS.

The long-term care and assisted living sectors of the health care industry have
experienced a significant decline in growth due to negative factors such as:

    - the federal government's shift to a Medicare prospective payment system in
      the skilled nursing industry,

    - increased labor costs,

    - fill-up periods of longer duration for assisted living facilities,

    - increased federal, state and local governmental regulation, and

    - tighter and more costly capital markets for both health care operators and
      companies financing such operators.

    Given our demonstrated ability to sell health care assets, we intend to
implement an orderly disposition of a significant number of the approximately
$2.2 billion of health care assets in our portfolio to repay debt and deleverage
our balance sheet.

                                       22
<PAGE>
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF MEDITRUST CORPORATION HAS SUSPENDED PAYMENT OF ITS
COMMON SHARE DIVIDEND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LIQUIDITY.

    The Board of Directors noted that suspending the dividend on our common
stock will provide approximately $65 million in additional liquidity per
quarter. The Board of Directors expects in December 2000 to declare the minimum
dividend necessary for Meditrust Corporation to maintain its real estate
investment trust status. The timing and amount of sales of the health care
assets will impact the amount of such minimum dividend. The dividend for the
issued and outstanding preferred stock of Meditrust Corporation remains at nine
percent (9%) and will continue to be declared and paid quarterly.

WE INTEND TO REPAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF OUR DEBT TO SUBSTANTIALLY DELEVERAGE
OUR BALANCE SHEET.

    We intend to use the proceeds generated from the sale of our health care
assets and the suspension of our common share dividend, as well as funds
available under our credit facility to repay a significant amount of our term
debt. In connection with the restructuring plan announced in November 1998, we
have already repaid over $625 million in term debt. We have an additional
$210 million of term debt that matures in July 2000 and $1.4 billion of term
debt that matures in 2001.

MEDITRUST INTENDS TO FOCUS ON ENHANCING THE LONG-TERM GROWTH POTENTIAL OF ITS
LODGING DIVISION.

    Although the lodging division continues to feel the negative impact of the
current imbalance between supply and demand in the industry, we believe that by
focusing on our internal growth and improving the efficiency of our operations,
we will be positioned to benefit from improving industry trends when the supply
imbalance begins to moderate. Some of the liquidity generated under the
reorganization plan will be targeted for disciplined investment in the lodging
division.

WE HAVE ANNOUNCED CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT CONSISTENT WITH OUR PLAN TO REDUCE OUR
EMPHASIS ON THE HEALTH CARE ASSETS.

    Clive Bode will remain the Chairman of our Boards of Directors; however,
consistent with the reduction in emphasis of our health care segment, David F.
Benson has left as Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer of Meditrust
Corporation and is no longer a director on either of our Boards of Directors.
Mr. Benson will continue to assist us in a consulting capacity as we move
forward in implementing our reorganization plan. William G. Byrnes, a member of
the Board of Directors of Meditrust Operating Company, will serve as the
Transitional Chief Executive Officer of Meditrust Corporation while the Board of
Directors of Meditrust Corporation seeks to fill the position permanently.

WE HAVE SOLD SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF OUR HEALTH CARE RELATED ASSETS.

    We announced on December 30, 1999 that we generated approximately
$146 million in gross proceeds from the sale of health care assets and from the
early repayment of mortgage note receivables. We used such proceeds, in addition
to funds from our credit facility, to repay $250 million of our debt that would
have otherwise matured on January 17, 2000.

    In addition, on February 2, 2000 we announced sales of 35 owned properties
and the partial and/or full repayment of 4 mortgage loans, which generated gross
proceeds of $236 million. We anticipate such proceeds will be used to repay
additional term debt.

                                       23
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

    The following is a description of the material terms and provisions of our
common stock. It may not contain all the information that is important to you
and is qualified by reference to our articles of incorporation and by-laws, as
in effect on the date hereof. You should read our articles of incorporation and
by-laws before you purchase any paired shares of our common stock. Our Amended
and Restated Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws contain certain
provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to gain control
of The Meditrust Companies. These provisions are summarized under the heading
"Important Provisions of Delaware Corporate Law and Our Charters and By-Laws"
found on page 28 of this prospectus.

THE PAIRING

    Pursuant to certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificates of
Incorporation, the paired shares of capital stock of Meditrust Corporation and
Meditrust Operating Company are transferable and tradeable only in combination
as units, each unit consisting of one share of Meditrust Corporation stock and
one share of Meditrust Operating Company stock. These restrictions on the
transfer of paired shares of Meditrust Corporation stock and Meditrust Operating
Company stock are imposed by our respective Amended and Restated Certificates of
Incorporation and By-laws. The pairing is evidenced by "back-to-back" stock
certificates; that is, certificates evidencing paired shares of Meditrust
Operating Company stock are printed on the reverse side of certificates
evidencing paired shares of Meditrust Corporation stock. The certificates bear a
legend referring to the restrictions on transfer imposed by our respective
Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws. To permit proper
allocation of the consideration received in connection with the sale of paired
shares, the pairing agreement provides that Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust
Operating Company shall, as decided from time to time but not less than once a
year, jointly make arrangements to determine the relative value of the stock of
each company.

AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

    The authorized capital stock of each of Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust
Operating Company, respectively, consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock,
par value $.10 per share, 30,000,000 shares of Series Common Stock, par value
$.10 per share, 6,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share
and 25,000,000 shares of Excess Stock, par value $.10 per share. The board of
directors of each company is authorized, without further stockholder approval,
to issue the Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, and to
determine the provisions applicable to each series, including the number of
shares, dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights
and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or
prices, stockholder liquidation preferences and whether such issuances will be
paired with the capital stock of the other company.

    The Meditrust Companies paired shares are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol "MT." As of January 14, 2000, 141,215,611
shares of common stock of Meditrust Corporation and 142,520,988 shares of common
stock of Meditrust Operating Company (described below) were issued and
outstanding, 700,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of Meditrust Corporation
were issued and outstanding and 1,000 shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock of Meditrust Corporation were issued and
outstanding.

COMMON STOCK

    Subject to provisions of law and the preferences of any series of Preferred
Stock which may be issued, holders of the paired shares are entitled to receive
dividends at times and in amounts as are declared from time to time by the
Meditrust Corporation Board of Directors or the Meditrust

                                       24
<PAGE>
Operating Company Board of Directors out of funds legally available for
dividends. To maintain eligibility as a real estate investment trust, Meditrust
Corporation must in general distribute to its stockholders at least 95% (90%
commencing in 2001) of its "real estate investment trust taxable income" before
deduction of dividends paid (less any net long-term capital gain and certain
other adjustments).

    Holders of paired shares are entitled to one vote for each share held on
each matter submitted to a stockholder vote. Except as otherwise provided by
law, or by our Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation or by
resolutions of our Boards of Directors providing for the issuance of any series
of Preferred Stock, the holders of the paired shares have sole voting power.

EXCESS STOCK

    The paired shares of Excess Stock in each of The Meditrust Companies' are
issuable by conversion when a stockholder of either common stock or preferred
stock (collectively referred to as "Equity Stock") of The Meditrust Companies'
owns, as determined under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, such an
amount of Equity Stock as would cause Meditrust Corporation not to be in
conformance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The real estate
investment trust qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and the
conversion of Equity Stock to Excess Stock are discussed in greater detail under
"Limits on Ownership of Capital Stock." Each share of Excess Stock is entitled
to the same dividends and distributions as paired shares of the class or series
of Equity Stock from which such Excess Stock was converted. In the event of a
liquidation or distribution of assets of Meditrust Corporation or Meditrust
Operating Company, each share of Excess Stock entitles the holder to receive,
ratably with each other holder of Equity Stock of the same class or series from
which such Excess Stock was converted, that portion of the assets of Meditrust
Corporation or Meditrust Operating Company, as appropriate, that is available
for distribution to the holders of such class or series of Equity Stock. Each
share of Excess Stock entitles the holder to the number of votes the holder
would have if such share of Excess Stock was a share of Equity Stock of the same
class or series from which such Excess Stock was converted.

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

    Our Registrar and Transfer Agent is State Street Bank and Trust Company,
through its agent Boston EquiServe.

                                       25
<PAGE>
                      LIMITS ON OWNERSHIP OF CAPITAL STOCK

OWNERSHIP LIMITS

    Among the requirements that Meditrust Corporation must meet to qualify as a
real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code is that not more
than 50% of the value of Meditrust Corporation's outstanding capital stock may
be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals during the last
half of a taxable year. Additionally, such paired shares of capital stock must
be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a
taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable
year. The Internal Revenue Code also provides that Meditrust Corporation may not
own, directly or indirectly, after application of the attribution rules of the
Internal Revenue Code, 10% or more of the outstanding shares of any tenant of
Meditrust Corporation, if Meditrust Corporation is to qualify as a real estate
investment trust. To ensure compliance with these requirements, the respective
Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws of each of The
Meditrust Companies provide for certain restrictions on the transfer and
ownership of The Meditrust Companies capital stock.

    To protect us against the risk of losing our status as a real estate
investment trust due to a concentration of ownership among our stockholders, our
Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation provide that no holder who is
an individual may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 9.25% of our capital stock.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Boards of Directors at their option
and in their discretion may approve a waiver of such ownership limitation for
selected persons. In fact, the Boards of Directors waived such ownership
limitation for the selling stockholders as a group in August 1999. Our Boards of
Directors, however, do not expect that they would waive the 9.25% ownership
limit in the absence of evidence satisfactory to the Boards of Directors that
the waiver of the limit will not jeopardize Meditrust Corporation's status as a
real estate investment trust and the Boards of Directors otherwise decide that
such action is in our best interests. Any transfer of shares of capital stock
including any security convertible into shares of capital stock that would
create a direct or indirect ownership of shares of capital stock in excess of
the 9.25% ownership limit or that would result in Meditrust Corporation's
disqualification as a real estate investment trust, including any transfer that
results in the shares of beneficial interest being owned by fewer than 100
persons or that results in us being "closely held" within the meaning of
Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, shall be void and have no effect.
The intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares of capital stock.
The foregoing restrictions will not apply if Meditrust Corporation's Board of
Directors determine that it is no longer in Meditrust Corporation's best
interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a real estate
investment trust.

    Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, some types of entities, such as
pension plans described in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and
mutual funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, will be
looked-through for purposes of the five or fewer test described above. Our
articles of incorporation preclude these entities from holding in excess of 9.8%
of the total value of our shares of capital stock.

SHARES OWNED IN EXCESS OF THE OWNERSHIP LIMIT

    Capital stock owned, or deemed to be owned, or transferred to a stockholder
in excess of the applicable ownership limit will be automatically converted into
shares of excess stock that will be transferred, by operation of law, to a trust
for the exclusive benefit of the transferees to whom such capital stock may be
ultimately transferred without violating the applicable ownership limit. While
the shares of excess stock are held in trust:

    - they will not be entitled to vote;

                                       26
<PAGE>
    - they will not be considered for purposes of any stockholder vote or the
      determination of a quorum for such vote; and

    - except upon liquidation, they will not be entitled to participate in
      dividends or other distributions.

    Any dividend or distribution paid on excess stock prior to discovery by us
that capital stock has been transferred in violation of the applicable ownership
limit shall be repaid to us on demand. Shares of excess stock are not treasury
stock, but rather constitute a separate class of issued and outstanding stock.
The trustee of such trust may, at any time the shares of excess stock are held
in trust, transfer the interest in the trust representing the excess stock to
any individual whose ownership of the capital stock converted into such excess
stock would be permitted under the applicable ownership limit, for valuable
consideration.

    Immediately upon the transfer to the permitted transferee, the excess stock
will automatically be converted into capital stock of the class from which it
was converted. If these transfer restrictions are determined to be void or
invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the
intended transferee of any excess stock may be deemed, at our opinion, to have
acted as an agent on our behalf in acquiring the excess stock and to hold the
excess stock on behalf of us.

RIGHT TO PURCHASE EXCESS STOCK

    In addition to the foregoing transfer restrictions, we have the right, for a
period of 90 days during the time any shares of excess stock are held by us in
trust, to purchase all or any portion of the excess stock from the original
transferee-stockholder for a price per share equal to the lesser of:

    - the price per share initially paid for the capital stock by the original
      transferee-stockholder, or if the original transferee-stockholder received
      the shares through a gift, devise or other transaction in which such
      stockholder did not give value, the average of the closing price per share
      for the class of shares from which the shares of excess stock were
      converted for the 5 days immediately preceding the transfer; and

    - the average closing price per share for the class of shares from which the
      shares of excess stock were converted for the 5 days immediately preceding
      the date we elect to purchase the shares.

The 90-day period begins on the date of the purported transfer that violated the
applicable ownership limit if the original transferee-stockholder gives notice
to us of the transfer or, if no notice is given, the date our Boards of
Directors determine that such a transfer has been made.

    Our stockholders are required upon demand to disclose to us in writing any
information with respect to their direct, indirect and constructive ownership of
capital stock as our Board of Directors deem necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to real estate investment
trusts, to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental
agency or to determine any such compliance.

    This ownership limitation may have the effect of delaying or precluding the
acquisition of control of either or both of The Meditrust Companies.

                                       27
<PAGE>
        IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BY-LAWS

    The following is a summary of important provisions of Delaware General
Corporation Law which affect us and our stockholders. Certain provisions of the
Delaware General Corporation Law and our Amended and Restated Certificates of
Incorporation and By-laws may have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change of control of either or both of The Meditrust Companies. The
description below is intended only as a summary. You can access complete
information by referring to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

BUSINESS COMBINATION PROVISIONS

    Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prevents a publicly held
corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

    - before the date on which the person became an interested stockholder, the
      Board of Directors of the corporation approved either the business
      combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested
      stockholder;

    - the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the outstanding voting
      stock of the corporation at the beginning of the transaction in which it
      became an interested stockholder, excluding stock held by directors who
      are also officers of the corporation and by employee stock plans that do
      not provide participants with the rights to determine confidentially
      whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or
      exchange offer; or

    - after the date on which the interested stockholder became an interested
      stockholder, the business combination is approved by the Board of
      Directors and the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of
      the corporation voting at a meeting, excluding the voting stock owned by
      the interested stockholder.

    As defined in Section 203, an "interested stockholder" is generally a person
owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation. As
defined in Section 203, a "business combination" includes mergers,
consolidations, stock and assets sales and other transactions with the
interested stockholder.

    In addition each of our Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation
restrict certain "business combinations" (as defined below) with interested
stockholders (the "business combinations" (as defined below) with interested
stockholders (the "Business Combination Provisions"). An interested stockholder
for the purposes of the Business Combination Provision includes any person or
entity who is, together with its affiliates and associates, the beneficial owner
of more than 10% of the voting stock of the corporation. This Business
Combination Provision provides that business combinations with interested
stockholders (without regard to the length of time a stockholder has been an
interested stockholder) may NOT be consummated without:

    - the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of all issued and outstanding
      shares entitled to vote in the election of directors;

    - if less than 90% of the shares approve the business combination,
      affirmative approval by a majority of the combined voting power of the
      then outstanding shares entitled to vote held by persons who are not
      interested stockholders.

    The Business Combination Provision does not apply to business combinations
approved by a majority of the directors unaffiliated with the interested
stockholder and elected prior to such an

                                       28
<PAGE>
interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder or if certain price
and procedural requirements are met. A "business combination" includes:

    - a merger or consolidation;

    - the sale or disposition of assets by either of The Meditrust Companies
      having an aggregate fair market value of $5,000,000 or more;

    - the issuance of stock by either of The Meditrust Companies having a fair
      market value of $5,000,000 or more;

    - the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution proposed by or on
      behalf of an interested stockholder; and

    - any merger, consolidation, reclassification or recapitalization which
      increases the proportionate shareholdings of an interested stockholder.

    The provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation and
our By-laws as described in "Limits on Ownership of Capital Stock" beginning on
page 26 may also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change
of control of either or both of The Meditrust Companies.

                                       29
<PAGE>
               FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES
                               OF YOUR INVESTMENT

    The following is a general summary of the most important federal income tax
considerations and consequences associated with an investment in our common
stock. The following discussion does not exhaust all possible tax considerations
and is not tax advice. Moreover, this summary does not deal with all tax aspects
or consequences that might be relevant to you in light of your personal
circumstances; nor does it deal with particular types of stockholders that are
subject to special treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, such as insurance
companies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. The Internal Revenue Code
provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of real estate investment
trusts are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its
entirety by the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof. The following discussion is based on current law and on
representations from us concerning our compliance with the requirements for
qualification as a real estate investment trust.

    WE URGE YOU, AS A PROSPECTIVE STOCKHOLDER, TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR
WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE PURCHASE, HOLDING AND SALE OF PAIRED SHARES OF OUR
COMMON STOCK.

FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

    We believe that Meditrust Corporation has been organized in conformity with
the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under the
Internal Revenue Code and its method of operation will enable it to continue to
meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment
trust under the Internal Revenue Code. Meditrust Corporation may not, however,
have met or continue to meet such requirements. Qualification as a real estate
investment trust depends upon it having met and continuing to meet the various
requirements imposed under the Internal Revenue Code through actual operating
results. No assurance can be given that actual operating results have met or
will meet these requirements.

    If Meditrust Corporation has qualified and continue to qualify for taxation
as a real estate investment trust, it generally will not be subject to federal
corporate income taxes on that portion of its ordinary income or capital gain
that is currently distributed to stockholders. The real estate investment trust
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code generally allow a real estate investment
trust to deduct dividends paid to its stockholders. This deduction for dividends
paid to stockholders substantially eliminates the federal double taxation on
earnings that usually results from investments in a corporation. "Double
taxation" refers to taxation of income once at the corporate level when earned
and once again at the stockholder level when distributed. Additionally, a real
estate investment trust may elect to retain and pay taxes on a designated amount
of its net long-term capital gains, in which case the stockholders of the real
estate investment trust will include their proportionate share of the
undistributed long-term capital gains in income and receive a credit or refund
for their share of the tax paid by the real estate investment trust. Meditrust
Operating Company, as a taxable corporation, is subject to taxation at regular
corporate rates on its taxable income and is not permitted a deduction for
dividends paid to shareholders. Meditrust Operating Company currently does not
pay a dividend on its common stock.

FAILURE TO QUALIFY AS A REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

    If Meditrust Corporation fails to qualify for taxation as a real estate
investment trust in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, it
will be subject to tax on its taxable income at regular corporate rates,
including any applicable alternative minimum tax. Distributions to stockholders
in any year in which it fails to qualify will not be deductible by Meditrust
Corporation nor will they be

                                       30
<PAGE>
required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current or accumulated
earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders will be dividends,
taxable as ordinary income, and subject to limitations of the Internal Revenue
Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction. Unless Meditrust Corporation is entitled to relief under specific
statutory provisions, it also will be disqualified from taxation as a real
estate investment trust for the four taxable years following the year during
which qualification was lost. It is not possible to state whether in all
circumstances Meditrust Corporation would be entitled to such statutory relief.
For example, Meditrust Corporation must derive a minimum percent of its gross
income from specified sources in order to qualify as a real estate investment
trust. If Meditrust Corporation fails to satisfy these gross income tests
because nonqualifying income that it intentionally incurs exceeds the limit on
such income, the Internal Revenue Service could conclude that its failure to
satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause, which is a condition to
qualification for relief from the four-year disqualification rule.

TAXATION OF UNITED STATES STOCKHOLDERS AND POTENTIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR
INVESTMENT IN PAIRED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

    When we refer to a United States stockholder, we mean a holder of paired
shares of common stock that is for federal income tax purposes:

    - an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

    - a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United
      States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or

    - a partnership, trust or estate treated as a domestic partnership, trust or
      estate.

For any taxable year for which Meditrust Corporation qualifies for taxation as a
real estate investment trust, amounts distributed by Meditrust Corporation to
taxable United States stockholders will be taxed as follows.

    DISTRIBUTIONS GENERALLY.  Distributions other than capital gain dividends to
United States stockholders will be taxable as dividends to the extent of the
current or accumulated earnings and profits of Meditrust Corporation as
determined for federal income tax purposes. Such dividends will be taxable to
the stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the
dividends-received deduction for corporations. To the extent that Meditrust
Corporation makes a distribution to a United States stockholder in excess of
current or accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be treated
first as a tax-free return of capital with respect to the Meditrust Corporation
shares, reducing the United States stockholder's tax basis in the Meditrust
Corporation shares, and the distribution in excess of a United States
stockholder's tax basis in the Meditrust Corporation shares will be taxable as
gain realized from the sale of the Meditrust Corporation shares. Dividends
declared by Meditrust Corporation in October, November or December of any year
payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month shall
be treated as both paid by Meditrust Corporation and received by the stockholder
on December 31 of the year, provided that the dividend is actually paid by
Meditrust Corporation during January of the following calendar year. United
States stockholders may not include on their own federal income tax returns any
of our tax losses.

    CAPITAL GAIN DIVIDENDS.  Dividends to United States stockholders that are
properly designated by Meditrust Corporation as capital gain dividends will be
treated as long-term capital gains, to the extent they do not exceed the actual
net capital gains of Meditrust Corporation, for the taxable year without regard
to the period for which the stockholder has held his paired shares of common
stock. However, corporate stockholders may be required to treat up to 20% of
particular capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Capital gain dividends are
not eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporations.

                                       31
<PAGE>
    RETAINED CAPITAL GAINS.  A real estate investment trust may elect to retain,
rather than distribute, its net long-term capital gains received during the
year. To the extent designated by the real estate investment trust in a notice
to its stockholders, the real estate investment trust will pay the income tax on
such gains and the real estate investment trust stockholders must include their
proportionate share of the undistributed long-term capital gains so designated
in income. Each real estate investment trust stockholder will be deemed to have
paid his share of the tax paid by the real estate investment trust, which will
be credited or refunded to the stockholder. The basis of each stockholder's real
estate investment trust shares will be increased by his proportionate amount of
the undistributed long-term capital gains, net of the tax paid by the real
estate investment trust, included in such stockholder's long-term capital gains.

    PASSIVE ACTIVITY LOSS AND INVESTMENT INTEREST LIMITATIONS.  Distributions,
including deemed distributions of undistributed long-term capital gains, from us
and gain from the disposition of paired shares of common stock will not be
treated as passive activity income, and therefore stockholders may not be able
to apply any passive losses against such income. Dividends from us, to the
extent they do not constitute a return of capital, will generally be treated as
investment income for purposes of the investment income limitation on the
deductibility of investment interest. However, net capital gain from the
disposition of paired shares of common stock or capital gain dividends,
including deemed distributions of undistributed long-term capital gains,
generally will be excluded from investment income.

    SALE OF PAIRED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.  Upon the sale or exchange of paired
shares of common stock, a United States stockholder will generally recognize
gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale
and the tax basis of the paired shares of common stock sold or exchanged.
Assuming such paired shares are held as a capital asset, such gain or loss will
be a long-term capital gain or loss if the paired shares have been held for more
than one year. However, any loss recognized by a United States stockholder on
the sale of paired shares of common stock held for not more than six months and
with respect to which capital gains were required to be included in such
stockholder's income will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent
of the amount of such capital gains so included and to the extent such loss is
allocable to such stockholder's shares of Meditrust Corporation common stock.

    TREATMENT OF TAX-EXEMPT STOCKHOLDERS.  Distributions, including deemed
distributions of undistributed long-term capital gains, from us to a tax-exempt
employee pension trust or other domestic tax-exempt stockholder generally will
not constitute unrelated business taxable income unless the stockholder has
borrowed to acquire or carry his paired shares of common stock. However, some
qualified trusts that hold more than 10% by value of the paired shares of a
particular real estate investment trust may be required to treat a specified
percentage of these distributions, including deemed distributions of
undistributed long-term capital gains, as unrelated business taxable income.

BACKUP WITHHOLDING

    Under the backup withholding rules, a United States stockholder may be
subject to backup withholding at the rate of 31% with respect to dividends paid
on, and gross proceeds from the sale of, paired shares of common stock unless
such stockholder:

    - is a corporation or comes within other specific exempt categories and,
      when required, demonstrates this fact or

    - provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss
      of exemption from backup withholding and otherwise complies with
      applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

                                       32
<PAGE>
    A United States stockholder who does not provide us with his current
taxpayer identification number may be subject to penalties imposed by the
Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Any amount paid as backup
withholding will be creditable against the stockholder's income tax liability.

    We will report to stockholders and the Internal Revenue Service the amount
of any reportable payments, including any dividends paid, and any amount
withheld with respect to paired shares of common stock during the calendar year.

STATE AND LOCAL TAX

    The Meditrust Companies and our stockholders may be subject to state and
local tax in various states and localities, including those in which we or our
stockholders transact business, own property or reside. The tax treatment of us
and our stockholders in such jurisdictions may differ from the federal income
tax treatment described above. CONSEQUENTLY, AS A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR, YOU
SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE EFFECT OF STATE AND LOCAL TAX
LAWS ON AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK.

                                       33
<PAGE>
                            THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

    The following table sets forth the number of paired shares beneficially
owned by the selling stockholders as of January 14, 2000. The paired shares
offered by this prospectus will be offered from time to time by the selling
stockholders named below. The amounts set forth below are based upon information
provided to us by representatives of the selling stockholders, or on our
records, as of January 14, 2000 and are accurate to the best of our knowledge.
It is possible, however, that the selling stockholders may acquire or dispose of
additional paired shares from time to time after the date of this prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               PAIRED SHARES    PERCENTAGE
                                            PAIRED SHARES                          TO BE        OF PAIRED
                                             BENEFICIALLY                      BENEFICIALLY    SHARES TO BE
                                             OWNED AS OF      PAIRED SHARES     OWNED AFTER    OWNED AFTER
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS                       JANUARY 14, 2000   OFFERED HEREBY    OFFERING(1)    OFFERING(2)
- --------------------                       ----------------   --------------   -------------   ------------
<S>                                        <C>                <C>              <C>             <C>
Sid R. Bass, Inc.........................      2,294,211(3)       2,294,211          0              *
Lee M. Bass, Inc.........................      2,294,211(4)       2,294,211          0              *
The Bass Management Trust................      2,549,762(5)       2,549,762          0              *
The Airlie Group, L.P....................        269,633(6)(7)       269,633         0              *
William P. Hallman, Jr...................        140,002(8)         140,002          0              *
Annie R. Bass Grandson's Trust for Lee M.
  Bass...................................        445,962(9)         445,962          0              *
Annie R. Bass Grandson's Trust for Sid R.
  Bass...................................        445,962(10)        445,962          0              *
Peter Sterling...........................        187,600(11)        187,600          0              *
Hyatt Anne Bass Successor Trust..........        857,701(12)        857,701          0              *
Samantha Sims Bass Successor Trust.......        857,701(13)        857,701          0              *
TF Investors, L.P........................         32,783(14)         32,783          0              *
FW Trinity Limited Investors, L.P........        419,398(15)(16)       419,398       0              *
National Bancorp of Alaska...............        113,045(17)        113,045          0              *
                                              ----------         ----------
TOTAL....................................     10,907,971         10,907,971
                                              ==========         ==========
</TABLE>

- ------------------------

*   Less than 1%.

(1) Assumes that all paired shares offered by this prospectus will be sold by
    the selling stockholders.

(2) The total number of paired shares outstanding on January 14, 2000 was used
    to calculate such percentage.

(3) Mr. Sid R. Bass, solely in his capacity as President of Sid R. Bass, Inc.,
    may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired shares.

(4) Mr. Lee M. Bass, solely in his capacity as President of Lee M. Bass, Inc.,
    may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired shares.

(5) Mr. Perry R. Bass, solely in his capacity as sole Trustee and as one of two
    trustors of the Bass Management Trust, may also be deemed a beneficial owner
    of such paired shares.

(6) Mr. Dort A. Cameron, III, solely in his capacity as one of two general
    partners of EBD L.P., which is the sole general partner of The Airlie Group,
    L.P., may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired shares.

(7) Mr. William P. Hallman, Jr., solely in his capacity as President and sole
    stockholder of TMT-FW, Inc., which is one of two general partners of EBD
    L.P., which is the sole general partner of The Airlie Group, L.P., may also
    be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired shares.

                                       34
<PAGE>
(8) This amount does not include (a) 445,962 paired shares held by Annie R. Bass
    Grandson's Trust for Sid R. Bass of which Mr. Hallman is the trustee
    (b) 445,962 paired shares held by Annie R. Bass Grandson's Trust for Lee M.
    Bass of which Mr. Hallman is the trustee, (c) 32,783 paired shares held by
    TF Investors, L.P. which is indirectly controlled by Trinity Capital
    Management, Inc., of which Mr. Hallman is the President and sole
    stockholder, (d) 269,633 paired shares held by the Airlie Group which is
    indirectly controlled by TMT-FW, Inc. of which Mr. Hallman is the President
    and sole stockholder, and (e) 419,398 paired shares held by FW Trinity
    Limited Investors, L.P. which is indirectly controlled by TF-FW Investors,
    Inc. of which Mr. Hallman is President and one of two stockholders.

(9) Mr. Hallman, solely in his capacity as Trustee of the Annie R. Bass
    Grandson's Trust for Lee M. Bass, may also be deemed a beneficial owner of
    such paired shares.

(10) Mr. Hallman, solely in his capacity as Trustee of the Annie R. Bass
    Grandson's Trust for Sid R. Bass, may also be deemed a beneficial owner of
    such paired shares.

(11) This amount does not include 419,398 paired shares held by FW Trinity
    Limited Investors, L.P., whose sole general partner is TF-TW Investors,
    Inc., of which Mr. Sterling is one of two stockholders.

(12) Panther City Production Company, solely in its capacity as sole shareholder
    of Panther City Investment Company, the Trustee of the Hyatt Anne Bass
    Successor Trust, may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired
    shares.

(13) Panther City Production Company, solely in its capacity as sole shareholder
    of Panther City Investment Company, the Trustee of Samantha Sims Bass
    Successor Trust, may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired
    shares.

(14) Mr. Hallman, solely in his capacity as President and sole stockholder of
    Trinity Capital Management, Inc., the sole general partner of TF Investors,
    L.P., may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired shares.

(15) Mr. Hallman, solely in his capacity as President and one of two
    stockholders of TF-FW Investors, Inc., which is the sole general partner of
    FW Trinity Limited Investors, L.P., may also be deemed a beneficial owner of
    such paired shares.

(16) Mr. Sterling, solely in his capacity as one of two stockholders of TF-TW
    Investors, Inc., which is the sole general partner of FW Trinity Limited
    Investors, L.P., may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired
    shares.

(17) Mr. Richard Strutz, solely in his capacity as President of National Bancorp
    of Alaska, Inc., may also be deemed a beneficial owner of such paired
    shares.

                                       35
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    We will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale by the selling
stockholders of the paired shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. We
are paying the fees and expenses associated with registering the sale of the
paired shares of common stock.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    This prospectus relates to the possible sale from time to time of up to an
aggregate of 10,907,971 paired shares by the selling stockholders. The
registration of the sale of the paired shares does not necessarily mean that any
of the paired shares will be offered or sold by the selling stockholders.

    The distribution of the paired shares may be effected from time to time in
one or more underwritten transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related
to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any underwritten offering
may be on a "best efforts" or a "firm commitment" basis. In connection with any
underwritten offering, underwriters or agents may receive compensation in the
form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders.
Underwriters may sell the paired shares to or through dealers, and such dealers
may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions from the
underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as
agents.

    The selling stockholders and any underwriters, dealers or agents that
participate in the distribution of the paired shares may be deemed to be
underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933, and any profit on the sale of the
paired shares by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by
any underwriters, dealers or agents might be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. When the selling stockholders
make a particular offer of the paired shares, a prospectus supplement will be
distributed if required. A prospectus supplement will, where applicable:

    - identify any underwriter, dealer or agent;

    - describe any compensation in the form of discounts, concessions,
      commissions or otherwise received by each underwriter, dealer or agent and
      in the aggregate to all underwriters, dealers and agents;

    - identify the amounts underwritten;

    - identify the nature of the underwriter's obligation to take the paired
      shares; and

    - provide any other required information.

    The sale of the paired shares by the selling stockholders may also be
effected by selling paired shares directly to purchasers or to or through
broker-dealers. In connection with any such sale, any such broker-dealer may act
as agent for the selling stockholders or may purchase from the selling
stockholders all or a portion of the paired shares as principal, and such sale
may be made pursuant to any of the methods described below. Such sales may be
made on the New York Stock Exchange or other exchanges on which the paired
shares are then traded, in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions or otherwise at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices
related to the then current market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated.

    Paired shares may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions:

    - block transactions in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of
      such paired shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion
      of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

    - purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal and resale by such
      broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to any supplement to this
      prospectus;

                                       36
<PAGE>
    - a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution
      in accordance with applicable New York Stock Exchange or other stock
      exchange rules;

    - ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such
      broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

    - sales "at the market" to or through a market maker or into an existing
      trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such paired shares; and

    - sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading
      markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

    In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may
arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers will receive
commissions or other compensation from the selling stockholders in amounts to be
negotiated immediately prior to the sale that will not exceed those customary in
the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation
from purchasers of the paired shares which is not expected to exceed that
customary in the types of transactions involved.

    To comply with applicable state securities laws, the paired shares will be
sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, paired shares may not be sold in some states
unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an
exemption from such registration or qualification requirement is available and
is complied with.

    All expenses relating to the offering and sale of the paired shares will be
paid by us, with the exception of commissions, discounts and fees of
underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, taxes of any kind and any legal,
accounting and other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders.

                                       37
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Particular legal matters, including the validity of the paired shares of
common stock offered by this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Goodwin,
Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

                                    EXPERTS

    The financial statements and the related financial statement schedules
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Joint Annual Report on
Form 10-K of Meditrust Corporation and Meditrust Operating Company for the year
ended December 31, 1998 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report(s)
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       38
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE OR CONTAINED IN A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
NEITHER WE NOR THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS HAVE AUTHORIZED ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE
YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS ARE NOT
MAKING AN OFFER OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER IS NOT
PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS, OR
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, OR IN ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS ACCURATE AS
OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.
                            ------------------------

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                 --------
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................      2
Risk Factors You Should Consider...............      4
  Our strategic focus on lodging related
  properties exposes investors to risks common
  in that industry that may adversely affect an
  investment in our securities.................      4
  Meditrust Corporation's ownership of health
  care related properties exposes investors to
  risks common to that industry that may
  adversely affect an investment in our
  securities...................................      6
  Our substantial debt, as well as various
  other risks associated with debt and
  preferred stock financing, could result in
  adverse consequences for us..................     10
  Meditrust Corporation's real property
  investments are subject to the many varying
  types and degrees of risk inherent in owning
  real estate and that may affect the value of
  our assets and our ability to generate
  revenue, net income and cash available for
  distribution to our stockholders.............     11
  An investment in our securities may have
  adverse tax consequences to the investor.....     13
  The real estate investment trust minimum
  distribution requirements may result in
  adverse consequences to investors............     15
  Provisions of our charters and by-laws could
  inhibit changes in control that could be
  beneficial to our stockholders...............     16
  We depend on key personnel...................     16
  We cannot give assurances that no further
  risks remain with respect to the Year 2000...     16
About This Prospectus..........................     17
Where You Can Find More Information............     17
Forward-Looking Statements.....................     19
The Meditrust Companies........................     21
Description of Common Stock....................     24
Limits on Ownership of Capital Stock...........     26
Important Provisions of Delaware Law and Our
  Charters and By-laws.........................     28
Federal Income Tax Considerations and
  Consequences of Your Investment..............     30
The Selling Stockholders.......................     34
Use of Proceeds................................     36
Plan of Distribution...........................     36
Legal Matters..................................     38
Experts........................................     38
</TABLE>

                            10,907,971 PAIRED SHARES

                            THE MEDITRUST COMPANIES

                                  COMMON STOCK

                             ---------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                             ---------------------

                                FEBRUARY 4, 2000

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

    The following table sets forth the estimated fees and expenses payable by us
in connection with the distribution of the securities registered hereby:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Registration Fee............................................  $ 9,540
Legal fees and expenses.....................................   30,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................   10,000
Printing and duplicating expenses...........................   28,000
Miscellaneous...............................................   12,460
                                                              -------
Total.......................................................  $90,000
</TABLE>

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

    Our Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws provide
that we shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to an
action or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director
or officer of ours, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware,
including for breaches of fiduciary duty. The Delaware General Corporation Law
allows indemnification for expenses incurred in actions brought by or in the
right of the corporation (commonly referred to as derivative actions), upon a
determination by the corporation that such person acted in good faith and in a
manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, except that a corporation may not indemnify such
person if he or she was adjudged to be liable to the corporation. However, the
Court of Chancery or the court in which the derivative action was brought may
determine that despite such adjudication of liability, such person is entitled
to indemnity by the corporation for such expenses as the court deems proper.

    In non-derivative actions, the Delaware General Corporation Law permits, in
addition to indemnification against expenses, indemnification against judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement, upon a determination that such person
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal
proceeding, that such person had no reasonable cause to believe the person's
conduct was unlawful.

    The determination as to whether to indemnify a person who is a director or
officer at the time of such determination, shall be made by a majority of the
disinterested directors, by a committee of disinterested directors, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or by the stockholders.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         EXHIBIT
           NO.            DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
  ---------------------   -----------                               ----------------
  <S>                     <C>                                       <C>
   4.1                    Amended and Restated Certificate of       Incorporated by reference to Annex A of
                          Incorporation of Meditrust Corporation    the Joint Proxy Statement on Schedule
                          filed with the Secretary of State of      14A filed on April 22, 1999.
                          Delaware on June 21, 1999.
</TABLE>

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         EXHIBIT
           NO.            DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
  ---------------------   -----------                               ----------------
  <S>                     <C>                                       <C>
   4.2                    Amended and Restated Certificate of       Incorporated by reference to Annex B of
                          Incorporation of Meditrust Operating      the Joint Proxy Statement on Schedule
                          Company filed with the Secretary of       14A filed on April 22, 1999.
                          State of Delaware on June 21, 1999.

   4.3                    By-Laws of Meditrust Corporation, as      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5
                          amended and restated on February 27,      to the Joint Registration Statement on
                          1998.                                     Form S-4 of Meditrust Corporation and
                                                                    Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    March 27, 1998.

   4.4                    By-Laws of Meditrust Operating Company,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6
                          as amended and restated on February 27,   to the Joint Registration Statement on
                          1998.                                     Form S-4 of Meditrust Corporation and
                                                                    Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    March 27, 1998.

   4.5                    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          of January 3, 1998, by and between        10.3 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Meditrust Corporation, Meditrust          8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          Operating Company and the selling         Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          stockholders.                             January 8, 1998.

   4.6                    Letter dated April 30, 1998 by Meditrust  Filed herewith.
                          Corporation and Meditrust Operating
                          Company agreeing to amend the
                          Registration Rights Agreement dated as
                          of January 3, 1998, by and between
                          Meditrust Corporation, Meditrust
                          Operating Company and the selling
                          stockholders.

   4.7                    Amendment dated September 15, 1999 to     Filed herewith.
                          the Registration Rights Agreement, by
                          and between Meditrust Corporation,
                          Meditrust Operating Company and the
                          selling stockholders.

   4.8                    Stockholders Agreement dated as of        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          January 3, 1998, among Meditrust          10.2 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Corporation, Meditrust Operating          8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          Company, certain stockholders of La       Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          Quinta Inns, Inc. and, solely for the     January 8, 1998.
                          purposes of Section 3.6 thereof, La
                          Quinta Inns, Inc.

   4.9                    First Amendment to Shareholders           Incorporated by reference to Annex D-1
                          Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1998,    to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
                          by and among Meditrust Corporation,       on Form S-4/A of Meditrust Corporation
                          Meditrust Operating Company, certain      and Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          stockholders of La Quinta Inns, Inc.      May 18, 1998.
                          and, solely for the purposes of Section
                          3.6 thereof, La Quinta Inns, Inc.

   5.1                    Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP    Filed herewith.
                          as to the legality of the securities
                          being registered

   8.1                    Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP    Filed herewith.
                          as to certain tax matters.
</TABLE>

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         EXHIBIT
           NO.            DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
  ---------------------   -----------                               ----------------
  <S>                     <C>                                       <C>
   23.1                   Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP.
                          (Included as part of Exhibits 5.1 and
                          8.1 hereto.)

   23.2                   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP     Filed herewith.

   24.1                   Power of Attorney for Meditrust
                          Corporation (included on signature page
                          of this joint registration statement)

   24.2                   Power of Attorney for Meditrust
                          Operating Company (included on signature
                          page of this joint registration
                          statement)

   99.1                   Letter Agreement by and among David F.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          Benson, Meditrust Corporation and         99.2 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Meditrust Operating Company, dated        8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          January 28, 2000                          Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    February 1, 2000
</TABLE>

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
       post-effective amendment to this joint registration statement:

         (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
             Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any acts or events arising after the
              effective date of the joint registration statement (or the most
              recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
              the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
              set forth in the joint registration statement. Notwithstanding the
              foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
              offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
              exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low
              or high end of the estimated offering range may be reflected in
              the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
              424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
              represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum
              aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
              Registration Fee" table in the effective joint registration
              statement; and

        (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
              distribution not previously disclosed in the joint registration
              statement or any material change to such information in the
              registration statement;

       PROVIDED HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply
       if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
       by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
       furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
       Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
       incorporated by reference in the joint registration statement;

    (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
       Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
       new joint registration statement relating to the securities offered
       therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
       to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof; and

                                      II-3
<PAGE>
    (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
       of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
       of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of
    determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
    the registrants' annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
    Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
    employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
    Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
    registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
    relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
    securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering
    thereof.

(c) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake to deliver or cause to be
    delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent
    or given, the latest annual report, to security holders that is incorporated
    by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the
    requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act
    of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented
    by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to
    deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is
    sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated
    by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial
    information.

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
    of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
    the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
    registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
    Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
    expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
    claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
    by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
    controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any
    action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
    controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
    registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
    settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
    jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
    public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
    adjudication of such issue.

(e) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:

    (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
       1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
       of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained
       in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
       Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed
       to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared
       effective.

    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
       1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
       shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
       securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
       time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                        MEDITRUST CORPORATION SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Meditrust
Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing of Form S-3 and has duly caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the Town of Needham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as of
February 3, 2000.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>  <C>
                                                       MEDITRUST CORPORATION

                                                       BY:  /S/ WILLIAM BYRNES
                                                            -----------------------------------------
                                                            William Byrnes
                                                            TRANSITIONAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
</TABLE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears
below hereby severally constitutes and appoints William G. Byrnes, Laurie T.
Gerber and Michael S. Benjamin as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person
and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this joint
registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute or substitutes of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                      DATE
                      ---------                                   -----                      ----
<C>                                                    <S>                           <C>
                  /s/ CLIVE D. BODE                    Chairman of the Board of
     -------------------------------------------       Directors                       February 3, 2000
                    Clive D. Bode
                /s/ WILLIAM G. BYRNES                  Transitional Chief Executive
     -------------------------------------------       Officer (Principal Executive    February 3, 2000
                  William G. Byrnes                    Officer)
                                                       Chief Financial Officer
                /s/ LAURIE T. GERBER                   (Principal Financial and
     -------------------------------------------       Principal Accounting            February 3, 2000
                  Laurie T. Gerber                     Officer)
               /s/ STEPHEN E. MERRILL                  Director
     -------------------------------------------                                       February 2, 2000
                 Stephen E. Merrill
                /s/ EDWARD W. BROOKE                   Director
     -------------------------------------------                                       February 3, 2000
                  Edward W. Brooke
              /s/ JOHN C. CUSHMAN, III                 Director
     -------------------------------------------                                       February 3, 2000
                John C. Cushman, III
                  /s/ JAMES P. CONN                    Director
     -------------------------------------------                                       February 3, 2000
                    James P. Conn
</TABLE>

                                      II-5
<PAGE>
                     MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Meditrust
Operating Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing of Form S-3 and has duly caused this
joint registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Needham, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, as of February 3, 2000.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>  <C>
                                                       MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY

                                                       BY:  /S/ WILLIAM C. BAKER
                                                            -----------------------------------------
                                                            William C. Baker
                                                            PRESIDENT
</TABLE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears
below hereby severally constitutes and appoints William C. Baker, Laurie T.
Gerber and Michael S. Benjamin as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person
and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this joint
registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that any said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute or substitutes of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this joint
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                    TITLE                    DATE
                      ---------                                    -----                    ----
<C>                                                    <S>                            <C>
                  /s/ CLIVE D. BODE                    Chairman of the Board of
     -------------------------------------------       Directors                      February 3, 2000
                    Clive D. Bode

                /s/ WILLIAM C. BAKER                   President and Director
     -------------------------------------------       (Principal Executive Officer)  February 3, 2000
                  William C. Baker

                /s/ LAURIE T. GERBER                   Chief Financial Officer
     -------------------------------------------       (Principal Financial and       February 3, 2000
                  Laurie T. Gerber                     Principal Accounting Officer)

               /s/ STEPHEN E. MERRILL                  Director
     -------------------------------------------                                      February 2, 2000
                 Stephen E. Merrill

                /s/ EDWARD W. BROOKE                   Director
     -------------------------------------------                                      February 3, 2000
                  Edward W. Brooke

                /s/ WILLIAM G. BYRNES                  Director
     -------------------------------------------                                      February 3, 2000
                  William G. Byrnes
</TABLE>

                                      II-6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         EXHIBIT
           NO.            DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
  ---------------------   -----------                               ----------------
  <S>                     <C>                                       <C>
   4.1                    Amended and Restated Certificate of       Incorporated by reference to Annex A of
                          Incorporation of Meditrust Corporation    the Joint Proxy Statement on Schedule
                          filed with the Secretary of State of      14A filed on April 22, 1999.
                          Delaware on June 21, 1999.

   4.2                    Amended and Restated Certificate of       Incorporated by reference to Annex B of
                          Incorporation of Meditrust Operating      the Joint Proxy Statement on Schedule
                          Company filed with the Secretary of       14A filed on April 22, 1999.
                          State of Delaware on June 21, 1999.

   4.3                    By-Laws of Meditrust Corporation, as      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5
                          amended and restated on February 27,      to the Joint Registration Statement on
                          1998.                                     Form S-4 of Meditrust Corporation and
                                                                    Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    March 27, 1998.

   4.4                    By-Laws of Meditrust Operating Company,   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6
                          as amended and restated on February 27,   to the Joint Registration Statement on
                          1998.                                     Form S-4 of Meditrust Corporation and
                                                                    Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    March 27, 1998.

   4.5                    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          of January 3, 1998, by and between        10.3 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Meditrust Corporation, Meditrust          8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          Operating Company and the selling         Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          stockholders.                             January 8, 1998.

   4.6                    Letter dated April 30, 1998 by Meditrust  Filed herewith.
                          Corporation and Meditrust Operating
                          Company agreeing to amend the
                          Registration Rights Agreement dated as
                          of January 3, 1998, by and between
                          Meditrust Corporation, Meditrust
                          Operating Company and the selling
                          stockholders.

   4.7                    Amendment dated September 15, 1999 to     Filed herewith.
                          the Registration Rights Agreement, by
                          and between Meditrust Corporation,
                          Meditrust Operating Company and the
                          selling stockholders.

   4.8                    Stockholders Agreement dated as of        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          January 3, 1998, among Meditrust          10.2 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Corporation, Meditrust Operating          8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          Company, certain stockholders of La       Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          Quinta Inns, Inc. and, solely for the     January 8, 1998.
                          purposes of Section 3.6 thereof, La
                          Quinta Inns, Inc.
</TABLE>

                                      II-7
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         EXHIBIT
           NO.            DESCRIPTION                               METHOD OF FILING
  ---------------------   -----------                               ----------------
  <S>                     <C>                                       <C>
   4.9                    First Amendment to Shareholders           Incorporated by reference to Annex D-1
                          Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1998,    to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
                          by and among Meditrust Corporation,       on Form S-4/A of Meditrust Corporation
                          Meditrust Operating Company, certain      and Meditrust Operating Company filed
                          stockholders of La Quinta Inns, Inc.      May 18, 1998.
                          and, solely for the purposes of Section
                          3.6 thereof, La Quinta Inns, Inc.

   5.1                    Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP    Filed herewith.
                          as to the legality of the securities
                          being registered

   8.1                    Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP    Filed herewith.
                          as to certain tax matters.

   23.1                   Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP.
                          (Included as part of Exhibits 5.1 and
                          8.1 hereto.)

   23.2                   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP     Filed herewith.

   24.1                   Power of Attorney for Meditrust
                          Corporation (included on signature page
                          of this joint registration statement)

   24.2                   Power of Attorney for Meditrust
                          Operating Company (included on signature
                          page of this joint registration
                          statement)

   99.1                   Letter Agreement by and among David F.    Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                          Benson, Meditrust Corporation and         99.2 to the Joint Current Report on Form
                          Meditrust Operating Company, dated        8-K for Meditrust Corporation and
                          January 28, 2000                          Meditrust Operating Company filed
                                                                    February 1, 2000
</TABLE>

                                      II-8

<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit 4.6

                  [Letterhead of The Meditrust Companies]


                                                     April 30, 1998



The Holders who are parties to
that certain Registration Rights Agreement
dated January 3, 1998
c/o William P. Hallman
Suite 3200
Texas Commerce Bank Tower
201 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102

         RE:      REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 3, 1998

Dear Mr. Hallman:

         Reference is made to that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated
January 3, 1998 (the "Registration Rights Agreement") by and between Meditrust
Corporation (the "Company"), Meditrust Operating Company ("OPCO") and each of
the signatories thereto (collectively, the "Holders"). All capitalized terms
used in this letter without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Registration Rights Agreement.

         In consideration of the Holders entering into Amendment No. 1 dated of
even date herewith to the Shareholders Agreement dated January 3, 1998 by and
among the Company, OPCO and the Holders, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Company and OPCO agree that the third sentence of Section 2(a) of the
Registration Rights Agreement shall be amended to read as follows:

         "The Company and OPCO agree to use reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf
         Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto or replacement or
         successor thereto) continuously effective until the earlier of (a) five
         (5) years from the Effective Date or the date on which the applicable
         Holders (or Distributee or other Holder Transferees) no longer hold any
         Registrable Securities.


<PAGE>


Mr. William P. Hallman
April 30, 1998
Page 2




         The Company and OPCO also further acknowledge that the remaining terms
and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement not specifically addressed
by this letter agreement remain in full force and effect.


                                                 Very truly yours,



                                                 /S/DAVID F. BENSON
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                 David F. Benson
                                                   President
                                                   Meditrust Corporation


                                                 /S/MICHAEL J. BOHNEN
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                 Michael J. Bohnen
                                                   Secretary
                                                   Meditrust Operating Company



<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit 4.7


                                                September 15, 1999


Meditrust Corporation                            Meditrust Operating Company
197 First Avenue                                 197 First Avenue
Suite 300                                        Suite 100
Needham, MA 02194                                Needham, MA 02194

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
January 3, 1998 by and among the undersigned and you, as amended and extended
(as so amended and extended, the "Registration Rights Agreement"). Each of the
undersigned hereby agrees that the time periods for filing the Shelf
Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and
causing such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission are hereby reinstated and extended to
February 1, 2000 and March 1, 2000, respectively. Except for the foregoing
extensions, all other terms of the Registration Rights Agreement remain in full
force and effect.


                                                THOMAS M. TAYLOR & CO.


                                                By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name:  W.P. Hallman, Jr.
                                                    Title:    Vice President


                                                SID R. BASS, INC.


                                                By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Name:  W.P. Hallman, Jr.
                                                    Title:    Vice President




                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


<PAGE>



                                        LEE M. BASS, INC.


                                        By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  W.P. Hallman, Jr.
                                            Title:    Vice President


                                        THE BASS MANAGEMENT TRUST


                                        By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Perry R. Bass, Trustee,
                                            by W.P. Hallman, Attorney-in-fact


                                        THE AIRLIE GROUP, L.P.

                                        By:  EBD, L.P., General Partner,
                                            ------------------------------------
                                             By:  TMT-FW Inc.,

                                                       By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                           ---------------------
                                                              W.P. Hallman, Jr.
                                                              Vice President


                                        /S/WILLIAM P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        WILLIAM P. HALLMAN, JR.


                                        ANNIE R. BASS GRANDSON'S TRUST FOR
                                        LEE M. BASS


                                        By: /S/WILLIAM P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            William P. Hallman, Jr., Trustee




                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                                        2


<PAGE>


                                     ANNIE R. BASS GRANDSON'S TRUST FOR
                                     SID R. BASS


                                     By: /S/WILLIAM P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         William P. Hallman, Jr., Trustee



                                     /S/PETER STERLING
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     PETER STERLING



                                     /S/ GARY L. MEAD
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     GARY L. MEAD


                                     HYATT ANNE BASS SUCCESSOR TRUST

                                     By:  Panther City Investment Co., Trustee


                                            By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                --------------------------------
                                                W.P. Hallman Jr.,
                                                Vice President


                                     SAMANTHA SIMS BASS SUCCESSOR TRUST

                                     By:  Panther City Investment Co., Trustee


                                            By: /S/W. P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                --------------------------------
                                                W.P. Hallman Jr.,
                                                Vice President



                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                                        3


<PAGE>


                                      PORTFOLIO C INVESTORS, L.P.

                                      By:  Portfolio Associates, Inc.,
                                             General Partner

                                             By: /S/W.P. HALLMAN, JR.
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 W.P. Hallman Jr.,
                                                 Vice President



Accepted and agreed to as of this 15th day of September, 1999.


                                      MEDITRUST CORPORATION


                                      By: /S/MICHAEL S. BENJAMIN
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Michael S. Benjamin, Esq.
                                          Title:   Senior Vice President



                                      MEDITRUST OPERATING COMPANY


                                      By: /S/MICHAEL S. BENJAMIN
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Michael S. Benjamin, Esq.
                                          Title: Authorized Agent



                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                                        4

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                  [LETTERHEAD OF GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP]

                                February 3, 2000

Meditrust Corporation
197 First Avenue, Suite 300
Needham Heights, MA 02494

Meditrust Operating Company
197 First Avenue, Suite 100
Needham Heights, MA 02494

         Re:      Legality of Securities to be Registered
                  Under Registration Statement on Form S-3
                  ----------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Meditrust Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Meditrust"), and Meditrust Operating Company, a Delaware
corporation ("Operating Company" and, together with Meditrust, the "Companies"),
in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about February 3, 2000
(the "Registration Statement"). The shares of Meditrust common stock, par value
$.10 per share, and the shares of Operating Company common stock, par value $.10
per share, are paired and trade as a single unit (the "Paired Shares"). The
Registration Statement relates to the sale by certain selling shareholders of up
to 10,907,971 Paired Shares (the "Shares").

         In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined the
Companies' Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation as on file with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, copies of the Companies'
Amended and Restated By-laws, such records of the corporate proceedings of the
Companies as were deemed material, the Registration Statement and the exhibits
thereto, and such other certificates, receipts, records and documents as we
considered necessary for the purposes of this opinion. In our examination, we
have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural
persons, the authenticity of telephonic confirmations of public officials and
others. As to facts material to our opinion, we have relied upon certificates or
telephonic confirmations of public officials and certificates, documents,
statements and other information of the Companies or representatives or officers
thereof.

         We are attorneys admitted to the practice in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdictions
other than the laws of the United States of America and the Delaware General
Corporation Law, and also express no opinion with respect to the blue sky or
securities laws of any state, including Delaware.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that under the Delaware
General Corporate Law, pursuant to which the Companies were incorporated, when
the Shares are sold by the Selling Stockholders as described in the Registration
Statement, the Shares will be duly and validly authorized, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filling of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
                                        Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 8.1

                                February 3, 2000

Meditrust Corporation
197 First Avenue
Needham, Massachusetts 02494

         Re:      CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX MATTERS

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Meditrust Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("the Company"), in connection with the registration statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"), relating to the registration of 10,907,971
shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company, paired with
10,907,971 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Meditrust
Operating Company, a Delaware corporation ("OpCo" and, together with the
Company, the "Companies").

         On November 5, 1997, the Company, then known as Santa Anita Realty
Enterprises, Inc. ("Santa Anita Realty"), merged (the "Santa Anita Merger") with
Meditrust, a Massachusetts business trust ("Meditrust's Predecessor"), with the
Company as the surviving corporation. In connection with the Santa Anita Merger,
Santa Anita Realty changed its name to Meditrust Corporation, and OpCo, formerly
known as Santa Anita Operating Company and the stock of which was paired with
the stock of Santa Anita Realty, changed its name to Meditrust Operating
Company.

         This opinion relates to the qualification of the Company as a real
estate investment trust (a "REIT") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and related matters.

         In rendering the following opinions, we have reviewed the Registration
Statement and the descriptions set forth therein of the Company and its current
and proposed investments and activities. We also have examined (i) the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company, each amended and
restated, (ii) the Pairing Agreement dated as of December 20,
<PAGE>

Meditrust Corporation
February 3, 2000
Page 2


1979, as amended, by and between the Company and OpCo, (iii) the Company's
federal income tax returns for each of its taxable years ended December 31,
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 as filed on Forms 1120-REIT, and (iv) such
other records, certificates and documents as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein. The
foregoing documents, including the Registration Statement, are referred to
herein as the "Documents."

         In rendering our opinions, we have relied upon certain factual
representations of the Company set forth in a representation letter (the
"Officer's Certificate") delivered to us in connection with our rendering of
this opinion regarding (i) the manner in which the Company has been owned and
operated and will be owned and operated and (ii) the manner in which Meditrust's
Predecessor was owned and operated for periods ending on and including the
effective time of the Santa Anita Merger. We also have relied on the statements
contained in the Documents regarding the operation and ownership of the Company,
Meditrust's Predecessor and their affiliates. We have neither independently
investigated nor verified such representations or statements, and we assume that
such representations and statements are true, correct and complete and that all
representations and statements made "to the best of the knowledge and belief" of
any person(s) or party(ies) or with similar qualification are and will be true,
correct and complete as if made without such qualification. However, we are not
aware of any facts or circumstances contrary to or inconsistent with such
representations and statements.

         In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have assumed (i) the
genuineness of all signatures on documents we have examined, (ii) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iii) the conformity
to the original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, (iv) the
conformity of final documents to all documents submitted to us as drafts, (v)
the authority and capacity of the individual or individuals who executed any
such documents on behalf of any person, (vi) the accuracy and completeness of
all records made available to us, (vii) the factual accuracy of all
representations, warranties and other statements made by all parties, and (viii)
the continued accuracy of all documents, certificates, warranties and covenants
on which we have relied in rendering the opinions set forth below and that were
given or dated earlier than the date of this letter, insofar as relevant to the
opinions set forth herein, from such earlier date through and including the date
of this letter. In addition, we have assumed the accuracy of the opinions of
counsel of the Company and of Meditrust's
<PAGE>

Meditrust Corporation
February 3, 2000
Page 3


Predecessor, each dated November 5, 1997, regarding the qualification of the
Company and of Meditrust's Predecessor as a REIT and related matters.

                                     * * * *

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         (i)      The Company since November 5, 1997 has been organized and
                  operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification
                  and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and the Company's form
                  of organization and proposed method of operation will enable
                  it to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and
                  taxation as a REIT under the Code (including for periods
                  following the Merger).

         (ii)     The Company is exempt from the application of Section
                  269B(a)(3) of the Code pursuant to Section 136(c)(3) of the
                  Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (except to the extent such
                  exemption is limited by the Internal Revenue Service
                  Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, Public Law No. 105-206).

         (iii)    The statements in the Registration Statement under caption
                  "Federal Income Tax Considerations and Consequences of Your
                  Investment," to the extent that such information constitutes
                  matters of law, summaries of legal matters, or legal
                  conclusions, have been reviewed by us and are accurate in all
                  material respects.

                                     * * * *

         We will not review on a continuing basis the Company's compliance with
the Documents or assumptions set forth above, or the representations set forth
in the Officer's Certificate. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the
actual results of the Company's operations for any given taxable year will
satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate
investment trust under the Code. The ability of the Company to continue to meet
the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment
trust will be dependent upon the Company's ability to continue to meet in each
year the applicable asset composition, source of income, shareholder
diversification, distribution, and other requirements of the Code necessary for
a corporation to qualify as a real estate investment
<PAGE>

Meditrust Corporation
February 3, 2000
Page 4


trust. The foregoing opinions are limited to the federal income tax matters
addressed herein, and no other opinion is rendered with respect to other federal
tax matters or to any issues arising out of the tax laws of any state or
locality. You should recognize that our opinions are not binding on a court or
the Internal Revenue Service and that a court or the Internal Revenue Service
may disagree with the opinions contained herein. Although we believe that our
opinions would be sustained if challenged, there can be no assurance that this
will be the case. The discussion and conclusions set forth above are based upon
current provisions of the Code and the Income Tax Regulations and Procedure and
Administration Regulations promulgated thereunder and existing administrative
and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change.
Changes in applicable law could adversely affect our opinions.

         This opinion is being provided to you in connection with the filing of
the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon by any other person or
used for any other purpose without our prior written consent.

         We consent to being named as Counsel to the Company in the Registration
Statement, to the references in the Registration Statement to our firm and to
the inclusion of a copy of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          /s/ GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR  LLP

                                          GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR  LLP

<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT 23.2

                   [LETTERHEAD OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP]

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 8, 1999 except for Note
21, as to which the date is March 10, 1999, relating to the financial
statements and our report dated February 8, 1999 relating to the financial
statement schedules, which appear in Meditrust Corporation's and Meditrust
Operating Company's Joint Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in such Registration Statement.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

January 31, 2000


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