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