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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1


                        [KING & SPALDING LETTERHEAD]


                                April 29, 1997

Medaphis Corporation
2700 Cumberland Parkway
Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30339

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Medaphis Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Medaphis"), in connection with the registration of 1,025,000
shares (the "Shares") of Medaphis common stock, par value $.01 per share,
pursuant to a Form S-8 Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement")
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 1997.  We
understand that the Shares will be issued pursuant to the Medaphis Corporation
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Executive Employees.

         In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the accuracy of
original, certified, conformed or photographic copies of the Registration
Statement, and such records, other agreements, certificates and other documents
as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion
set forth below.  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.  We also have reviewed such releases
and no-action letters of the Securities and Exchange Commission as we have
deemed relevant to the opinion set forth below.

         Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations and
qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been
duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the option
agreements and option plan under which such Shares are governed, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of statutory preemptive
rights.

         The foregoing opinion is subject to the following limitations and
qualifications:

         We are members of the Bar of the State of Georgia and, accordingly, do
not purport to be experts on or to express any opinion herein concerning any
law other than the laws of the State of Georgia, the corporate laws of the
State of Delaware, and the federal laws of the United States.


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Medaphis Corporation
April 29, 1997
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         This opinion has been furnished to you at your request and no other
person or entity shall be entitled to rely upon this opinion without our prior
written consent.  We consent to the inclusion of this opinion in the
Registration Statement. This opinion is given as of this date, and we assume no
obligation to advise you after this date of facts or circumstances that come to
our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the opinions
contained in this letter.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ KING & SPALDING
                                        --------------------------
                                        KING & SPALDING