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EXHIBIT 5
CHRISTI R. SULZBACH
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL
CORPORATE OFFICE
(805) 563-7011
(805) 563-6857 FAX
October 23, 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
700,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.075 par value per share (the
"Shares"), which Shares will be received upon the exercise of options granted
under the Company's Second Amended and Restated 1994 Directors Stock Option 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 issued and delivered in accordance with
the terms of the Plan upon exercise of options 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
