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EXHIBIT 5
July 14, 2000
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
3820 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Ladies and 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-8 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), for the
registration of 4,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.075 par
value per share (the "Shares"), which Shares will be granted, or received
upon the exercise of awards granted, under the Company's Fourth Amended and
Restated 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").
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 and when the Shares have been (i) issued and delivered in accordance
with the terms of the Plan, or (ii) received upon exercise of awards granted
under and delivered in accordance with the Plan, such Shares will be legally
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 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/ CHRISTI R. SULZBACH
Christi R. Sulzbach
