EXHIBIT 10.1

                                SECOND AMENDMENT
                                     TO THE
             LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


         THIS AMENDMENT is made to the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan") by LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (the "Company") on this
15th day of December, 2005.

                                    RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, the Company established the Plan effective January 1, 2002 to
provide eligible employees an option to purchase the common stock of the
Company, and amended the Plan effective May 21, 2003;

         WHEREAS, the Plan may be amended at any time by action of the board of
directors of the Company; and

         WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has authorized the
amendment of the Plan to modify the exercise price of shares of stock that are
available under the Plan to reflect a discount of 5% from the market value of
such shares at the end of each Plan year;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as provided below, effective
January 1, 2006:

         SECTION 3.1(a) OF THE PLAN IS RESTATED AS FOLLOWS:

         (a)   The exercise price of each Option shall be 95% of Fair Market
               Value of each share of Stock that is subject to the Option, based
               on the Stock's Fair Market Value that is determined on the
               Exercise Date.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of the Company has executed
this Amendment on the date first written above.

                                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.



                                    By:     William F. Carpenter III
                                            ------------------------

                                    Its:    Executive Vice President & Secretary
                                            ------------------------------------

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