TENET HEALTHCARE CORP
S-3, 1997-02-14
GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC
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<PAGE>

    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 14, 1997
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 33-      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                   -----------
                          TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            NEVADA                          8062                 95-2557091
(State or other jurisdiction of      (Primary standard        (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   industrial classification   Identification No.)
                                        code number)

                                3820 STATE STREET
                        SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93105 
                                 (805) 563-7000
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                              SCOTT M. BROWN, ESQ.
                             SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
                          GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                          TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                                3820 STATE STREET
                        SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 93105 
                                 (805) 563-7000
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                   -----------
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

                                   -----------
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>
                                                                PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                   AMOUNT       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
        TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                     TO BE     OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE             AMOUNT OF
      SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED   PER UNIT (1)   OFFERING PRICE (1)   REGISTRATION FEE (1)
<S>                                              <C>         <C>             <C>                  <C>   
Common Stock, par value $0.075 per share. . . . .  305,172       $25.75          $7,858,179              $2,381
</TABLE>
 
(1)  Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
     Act").  Pursuant to Rule 457, the maximum offering price of the shares of
     Tenet Common Stock being registered is $25.75 per share, the average of the
     high and low reported sales prices of a share of Tenet Common Stock
     reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on February 7, 1997,
     and the maximum aggregate offering price is the product of $25.75 and
     305,172, the number of shares of Tenet Common Stock being registered.

     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 WILL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.

<PAGE>

                SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY      , 1997

PROSPECTUS
 
                          TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                         305,172 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                               (PAR VALUE $0.075)
                               ------------------

     This Prospectus relates to 305,172 shares (the "Shares") of par value
$0.075 Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of Tenet Healthcare Corporation
("Tenet", the "Registrant" or the "Company") that may be offered for sale by the
persons listed under the heading "Selling Shareholders" (the "Selling
Shareholders").  The Shares were issued by Tenet to The Surgery Suite, Inc. (the
"Surgi-Center") pursuant to a transaction in which Tenet acquired substantially
all of the assets of the Surgi-Center.  The Surgi-Center subsequently
distributed the Shares to its shareholders, who are the Selling Shareholders.
The distribution of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders may be effected from
time to time in ordinary brokerage transactions on the New York Stock Exchange
or the Pacific Stock Exchange (collectively, the "Exchanges") at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale or in one or more negotiated transactions at
prices acceptable to the Selling Shareholders.  In addition, the Selling
Shareholders may sell the Shares through or to brokers in the over-the-counter
market.  The brokers or dealers through or to whom the Shares may be sold may be
deemed underwriters of the Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in which event all brokerage
commissions or discounts and other compensation received by such brokers or
dealers may be deemed to be underwriting compensation.  The Company will receive
none of the proceeds from this offering.  The Company will bear all expenses of
the offering, except that the Selling Shareholders will pay any applicable
brokerage fees or commissions and transfer taxes.  See Plan of Distribution
below.
 
     The Common Stock and the Shares offered hereby currently are listed on the
Exchanges.  On February 13, 1997, the closing price of the Common Stock on the
New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape was $28.50.
 
     THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                              --------------------

 
                The date of this Prospectus is February ___, 1997

<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission may be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
the following Regional Offices of the Commission:  New York Regional Office,
Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048; and Chicago Regional Office,
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-
2511; and copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at
prescribed rates.  The Commission also maintains a Web site at
http://www.sec.gov. that contains reports, proxy statements and other
information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission.
The reports, proxy statements and other information also may be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005, and at the offices of the Pacific Stock Exchange Incorporated, 301 Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104.  The Common Stock is listed on such
Exchanges.

     This Prospectus constitutes part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act.
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect
to the Company and the Shares offered hereby.  Any statements contained herein
concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission are not
necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such
document so filed.  Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such
reference.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act (File No. I-7293) are incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference and are made a part hereof: (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended May 31, 1996, filed with the Commission on August 26, 1996
(the "Tenet 10-K"); (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended August 31, 1996, filed with the Commission on October 11, 1996; (iii)
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 30, 1996,
filed with the Commission on January 10, 1997; (iv) Current Report on Form 8-K,
dated November 5, 1996, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996; (v)
Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 12, 1997, filed with the Commission
on February 13, 1997;  (vi) the description of the Common Stock of the Company,
which is contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
with the Commission on April 8, 1971, including any amendments or reports filed
for the purpose of updating such description; and (vii) the description of
certain preferred stock purchase rights that have attached to the Common Stock,
which is contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
with the Commission on December 9, 1988, including any amendments or reports
filed for the purpose of updating such description.


                                       -1-

<PAGE>

     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering hereby of the Common Stock, shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document
which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

     This Prospectus incorporates documents by reference which are not presented
herein or delivered herewith.  Copies of all documents incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits
are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents) will be provided
without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered,
upon written or oral request of such person.  Request for such copies should be
directed to Scott M. Brown, Secretary, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, P.O. Box
31907, Santa Barbara, California 93130, telephone number (805) 563-7000. 

                                   THE COMPANY

     Tenet is the second largest investor-owned healthcare services company in
the United States.  On January 30, 1997, Tenet acquired OrNda HealthCorp
("OrNda") in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests.  The
acquisition was accomplished when a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenet was merged
with and into OrNda (the "Merger"), leaving OrNda as a wholly owned subsidiary
of Tenet.  

     Pursuant to the Merger, each share of OrNda common stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Merger was converted into the right to receive 1.35
shares of Tenet common stock.  In addition, for each share of OrNda stock that
an option or warrant holder was to receive upon exercise, the holder now will
receive 1.35 shares of Tenet common stock upon exercise.  Cash will be paid in
lieu of fractional shares.  Tenet has registered approximately 85.9 million
shares of Tenet common stock for issuance in connection with the Merger of which
approximately 4.5 million are reserved for issuance in the future upon the
exercise of the options and warrants.

      The combined company owns 127 hospitals (two of which are operated
independently and one of those is being held for sale) and numerous ancillary
healthcare operations serving communities in 22 states.  A substantial number of
OrNda's 50 general hospitals complement the 77 general hospitals owned or leased
by Tenet prior to the Merger, particularly in south Florida and southern
California.  

     The Company's principal executive offices are located at 3820 State Street,
Santa Barbara, California 93105.  The Company's mailing address is P.O. Box
31907, Santa Barbara, California 93130, and its telephone number is (805) 563-
7000.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

                          RESTATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The restated financial statements of Tenet taking into account the Merger
will be filed by amendment.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

     The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of
shares of Common Stock owned by each of the Selling Shareholders and the maximum
number of Shares that may be offered hereby by each Selling Shareholder.  No
Selling Shareholder beneficially owns more than one percent of the Company's
Common Stock.


<TABLE>
                                      Number of           Number of         Number of 
                                     Shares Owned          Shares          Shares Owned
Name                            Prior to the Offering   Being Offered   After the Offering
- ----                            ---------------------   -------------   ------------------
<S>                             <C>                     <C>             <C>

Andrew Benson, M.D.. . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Louis G. Cucinotta, M.D. . . .          14,532             14,532                0
William Dabdoub, D.P.M.. . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Robert Eddington, M.D. . . . .           7,266              7,266                0
James R. Gosey, M.D. . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Cary F. Gray, M.D. . . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Frank Guidry, M.D. . . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
David B. Hebert, M.D . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Peter Hertzak, M.D.. . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
James Holmes, M.D. . . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Charles Krieger, M.D . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Michael L. Lifsey, M.D.. . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Robert J. Muller, M.D. . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
E. Michael O'Bryan, M.D. . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Stanford A. Owen, M.D. . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Robert E. Owens, M.D.. . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Gerard Pena, M.D.. . . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Jorge Sanchez, M.D.. . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Grant P. Simmons, M.D. . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
P. Douglas Slocum, M.D.. . . .           7,266              7,266                0
Steven J. Watson, M.D. . . . .          14,532             14,532                0
Robert Weiss, M.D. . . . . . .          14,532             14,532                0

     Total . . . . . . . . . .         305,172            305,172                0
</TABLE>


                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The shares may be sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders in any
one or more transactions (which may involve block transactions) on the
Exchanges, in the over-the-counter market, on NASDAQ, on any exchange on which
the Common Stock may then be listed or otherwise in negotiated transactions, or
a combination of such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of sale or at negotiated prices.  The Selling Shareholders may effect such
transactions by selling shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-
dealers may sell the shares as agent or may purchase such shares as principal
and resell them for their own account pursuant to this Prospectus.  Such broker-
dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts,
concessions or commissions from the Selling Shareholders and/or purchasers of
shares for whom they may act as agent (which compensation may be in excess of
customary commissions).

     In connection with such sales, the Selling Shareholders and any
participating brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" as defined
in the Securities Act, in which event all brokerage commissions or discounts and
other compensation received by such brokers or dealers may be deemed
underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.  In addition, any of the
securities that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144
rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal matters with respect to the Shares offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Scott M. Brown, Senior Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel of the Company.  As of February 13, 1997, Mr. Brown owned
2,449 shares of Common Stock and had outstanding options to purchase 201,634
shares of Common Stock pursuant to Company benefit plans.

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Tenet Healthcare
Corporation as of May 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the years in the three-
year period ended May 31, 1996, have been incorporated by reference herein and
in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein,
and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.  The
report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the consolidated financial statements
refers to a change in the method of accounting for income taxes in 1994.

     The consolidated financial statements of OrNda HealthCorp at August 31,
1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended August 31,
1996, incorporated by reference in the Tenet Healthcare Corporation Current
Report on Form 8-K dated February 12, 1997 have been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon and incorporated
by reference therein and incorporated herein by reference.  Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>

                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Prospective investors are cautioned that the statements in this Prospectus
and in documents incorporated by reference herein that are not descriptions of
historical facts constitute forward looking statements that are subject to risks
and uncertainties.  The Company's actual results could differ materially from
those currently anticipated in these forward looking statements due to, among
other things, certain factors described in documents incorporated by reference
herein, including, without limitation, the Tenet 10-K.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>

     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS.  IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS.  THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE
COMMON STOCK IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL
TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR
ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR
IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.


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


                                    CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

AVAILABLE INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
     BY REFERENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
RESTATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
LEGAL MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
EXPERTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5



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




                                 305,172 SHARES



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


                                TENET HEALTHCARE 
                                   CORPORATION


                                  COMMON STOCK








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


                                   PROSPECTUS


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


                               FEBRUARY ___, 1997

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

          Securities and Exchange Commission fee . . . . . .  $2,381
          Printing and Engraving fees. . . . . . . . . . . .  $5,000
          Accounting fees and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000
          Legal fees and expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000
          Blue sky fees and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000
          Miscellaneous fees and expenses. . . . . . . . . .  $2,619
               Total fees and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 78.751 of the Nevada General Corporation Law ("Nevada Law")
provides generally and in pertinent part that a Nevada corporation may indemnify
its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines, and settlements
actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any civil suit or
action, except actions by or in the right of the corporation, or any
administrative or investigative proceeding if, in connection with the matters in
issue, they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and in connection
with any criminal suit or proceeding, if in connection with the matters in
issue, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful.
Section 78.751 further provides that, in connection with the defense or
settlement of any action by or in the right of the corporation, a Nevada
corporation may indemnify its directors and officers against expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by them if, in connection with the matters in issue,
they acted in good faith, in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interest of the corporation. Section 78.751 further permits
a Nevada corporation to grant its directors and officers additional rights of
indemnification through by-law provisions and otherwise. 

     Article X of the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the
Registrant (the Restated Articles") and Article IX of the Restated By-Laws, as
amended, of the Registrant (the "Restated Bylaws") provide that the Registrant
shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Nevada Law. The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each
of its directors and executive officers. Such indemnification agreements are
intended to provide a contractual right to indemnification, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, for expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the person to be indemnified in connection with any proceeding
(including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any derivative action) to
which they are, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their status
in such positions. Such indemnification agreements do not change the basic legal
standards for indemnification set forth under Nevada Law, the Restated Articles
or the Restated Bylaws. Such agreements are intended to be in furtherance, and
not in limitation of, the general right to indemnification provided in the
Restated Articles and Restated Bylaws. 


                                      II-1

<PAGE>

          Section 78.037 of the Nevada Law provides that the articles of
incorporation may contain, and Tenet's Restated Articles do contain, a provision
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the
corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the
liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (ii) under Section
78.300 of the Nevada Law (relating to liability for unauthorized acquisitions or
redemptions of, or dividends on, capital stock).  The Company's Restated
Articles and Restated Bylaws permit indemnification of directors and officers in
terms sufficiently broad to indemnify officers and directors under certain
circumstances for liabilities (including expense reimbursement) arising under
the Securities Act.  The Company also maintains an indemnification agreement
with each of its Directors and any officer designated by the Company's Board of
Directors insuring them against certain liabilities incurred by them in the
performance of their duties, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  In
addition, the Company has directors and officers liability insurance policies.


ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

      5.1      Opinion of Scott M. Brown
     23.1      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
     23.2      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
     23.3      Consent of Scott M. Brown (included in his opinion filed as
               Exhibit 5.1)
     24.1      Power of Attorney (included on page II-4 of this Registration
               Statement)


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

          The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (a) (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
          being made, a post-effective amendment to this 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 facts or events arising
          after the effective date of the 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 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 maximum 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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
          "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
          statement;


                                      II-2

<PAGE>

               (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
          plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the 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
Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and 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 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the 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 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.

          (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)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
to Sections 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 the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Nevada Law,
the Restated Articles of Incorporation, and the Restated Bylaws, as amended, or
otherwise, the Registrant has 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
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant 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 Registrant 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. 


                                      II-3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Santa Barbara, State of California on February 14,
1997.
                                   TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

                                   By:         Scott M. Brown   
                                      -----------------------------------
                                               Scott M. Brown
                                            Senior Vice President 


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Jeffrey C. Barbakow, Trevor Fetter, Raymond L.
Mathiasen and Scott M. Brown and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement
and any related registration statements pursuant to Rule 462 of the Securities
Act of 1933 and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or
substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below on February 14, 1997, by the
following persons in the capacities indicated: 

TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

Trevor Fetter                           Scott M. Brown
- ---------------------------------       --------------------------------
Trevor Fetter                           Scott M. Brown
Executive Vice President                Senior Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

Raymond L. Mathiasen
- ---------------------------------
Raymond L. Mathiasen
Senior Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)


                                      II-4

<PAGE>

           Signature                    Title
           ---------                    -----

      Jeffrey C. Barbakow               Chairman, Chief Executive
- ---------------------------------       Officer and Director (Principal
      Jeffrey C. Barbakow               Executive Officer)


     Michael H. Focht, Sr.              President, Chief Operating
- ---------------------------------       Officer and Director
     Michael H. Focht, Sr.


        Bernice Bratter                 Director
- ---------------------------------
        Bernice Bratter



       Maurice J. DeWald                Director
- ---------------------------------
       Maurice J. DeWald


        Peter de Wetter                 Director
- ---------------------------------
        Peter de Wetter


      Edward Egbert, M.D.               Director
- ---------------------------------
      Edward Egbert, M.D.


        Raymond A. Hay                  Director
- ---------------------------------
        Raymond A. Hay


        Lester B. Korn                  Director
- ---------------------------------
        Lester B. Korn


      James P. Livingston               Director
- ---------------------------------
      James P. Livingston


                                        Director
- ---------------------------------
      Thomas J. Pritzker


     Richard S. Schweiker               Director
- ---------------------------------
     Richard S. Schweiker


                                      II-5

<PAGE>

           Signature                    Title
           ---------                    -----

                                        Director
- ---------------------------------
        Peter A. Joseph


                                        Director
- ---------------------------------
         Paul S. Levy


                                      II-6

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



   5.1    Opinion of Scott M. Brown
  23.1    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
  23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
  23.3    Consent of Scott M. Brown (included in his opinion filed as
          Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1    Power of Attorney (included on page II-4 of this Registration
          Statement)


 

<PAGE>



                                        February 14, 1997



Tenet Healthcare Corporation
3820 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Gentlemen:

     I am the General Counsel of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), and in such capacity I have examined the Company's
Registration Statement on Form  S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), for the registration of
305,172 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.075 par value per share (the
"Shares"), that may be offered for sale by the persons listed under the heading
"Selling Shareholders" (the "Selling Shareholders") in the Registration
Statement.  The Shares were issued by Tenet to The Surgery Suite, Inc. (the
"Surgi-Center") pursuant to a transaction in which Tenet acquired substantially
all of the assets of the Surgi-Center.  The Surgi-Center subsequently
distributed the Shares to its shareholders, who are the Selling Shareholders.

     I have examined and am familiar with originals or copies, certified or
otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records,
certificates of public officials and officers of the Company and such other
instruments as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the
opinions expressed below.

     Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares are duly
authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the 1933 Act, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   /s/ Scott M. Brown

                                   Scott M. Brown




                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                                AUDITORS' CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Tenet Healthcare Corporation:

We consent to the use of our reports dated July 25, 1996 incorporated herein by
reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Tenet Healthcare
Corporation, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Tenet Healthcare
Corporation and subsidiaries as of May 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended May 31, 1996, and the related
schedule, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus.  Our report on the consolidated financial statements refers to a
change in the method of accounting for income taxes in 1994.


                                        KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Los Angeles, California
February 13, 1997



<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Tenet Healthcare
Corporation for the registration of 305,172 shares of the common stock of Tenet
Healthcare Corporation and to the incorporation by reference of our report dated
October 25, 1996 with respect to the consolidated financial statement of OrNda
HealthCorp at August 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the
period ended August 31, 1996, incorporated by reference in the Tenet Healthcare
Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 12, 1997.


                                             ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Nashville, Tennessee
February 11, 1997




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