EXHIBIT 5


                                October 27, 2004


Cardinal Health, Inc.
7000 Cardinal Place
Dublin, OH  43017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  I have acted as counsel to Cardinal Health, Inc., an Ohio
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), relating to the issuance of up to 569,000
common shares, without par value (the "Common Shares"), of the Company pursuant
to the following plans (collectively, the "Plans"): (a) ALARIS Medical Systems,
Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan; (b) ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc.
2004 Stock Incentive Plan; (c) ALARIS Medical Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option
Plan; and (d) Third Amended and Restated 1988 Stock Option Plan.

                  In connection with the foregoing, I have examined: (a) the
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Restated Code of
Regulations, as amended, of the Company, (b) copies of the Plans, and (c) such
records of the corporate proceedings of the Company and such other documents as
I deemed necessary to render this opinion. I have assumed that the copies of the
Plans I reviewed are the form approved by the Board of Directors of ALARIS
Medical Systems, Inc. (or a committee of such Board).

                  Based on such examination, I am of the opinion that the Common
Shares available for issuance under the Plans, when issued, delivered and paid
for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plans, will be legally
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  For purposes of the opinions given herein, I do not purport to
be a member of the Bar of, or an expert on the laws of, any jurisdiction other
than the State of Ohio, and I express no opinion herein as to the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Ohio.

                  I hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as Exhibit 5 to
the Registration Statement and the reference to me in Item 5 of Part II of the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am
in the category of person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                     Very truly yours,


                                                     /s/ Stephen T. Falk
                                                     -------------------------
                                                     Stephen T. Falk
                                                     Vice President and
                                                     Associate General Counsel