1
                                                                       Exhibit 5


                                November 2, 1998


NetMed, Inc.
6189 Memorial Drive
Dublin, Ohio 43017

Gentlemen:

         With respect to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") being filed by NetMed, Inc. (the "Company") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the registration of 8,000,000
common shares of the Company, without par value (the "Shares"), we advise you as
follows:

         We are counsel for the Company and have participated in the preparation
of the Registration Statement. We have reviewed the Company's Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, the corporate action
taken to date in connection with the Registration Statement and the issuance and
sale of the Shares, and such other documents and authorities as we deem relevant
for the purpose of this opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, upon compliance
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and with the securities or "blue
sky" laws of the states in which the Shares are to be offered for sale, the
Shares 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 use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur

                                             PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS & ARTHUR