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                               KING & SPALDING                       EXHIBIT 5.1
                             191 Peachtree Street
                          Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1763


Direct Dial:                Telephone: 404/572-4600                 Direct Fax:
404/572-4600                Facsimile: 404/572-5100                404/572-5145



                                  May 23, 1996



Medaphis Corporation
2700 Cumberland Parkway
Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

       Re:    Form S-4 Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement")
              relating to shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
              Medaphis Corporation


Gentlemen:

       We have acted as counsel for Medaphis Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Medaphis"), in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain
Merger Agreement, dated as of May 23, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and
among Medaphis, RAKSub, Inc. ("RAKSub") and Health Data Sciences Corporation
("HDS")(the "Merger").  As such counsel, we have examined and relied upon such
records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are
necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinion hereinafter set
forth.  In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures
on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all
copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies, and as to
certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to have been properly
given and to be accurate.  Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that
the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Medaphis issuable in
connection with the Merger have been duly authorized, and, when issued in
accordance with the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


       We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration
Statement.


                                          Very truly yours,


                                          /s/ King & Spalding
                                          King & Spalding