EXHIBIT 24.8

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints Bradford T. Smith his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with the Laboratory Corporation
of America Holdings (the "Corporation") Registration Statement on Form S-8 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the Corporation's offering
of its common stock under its 1997 Employees Stock Purchase Plan, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form S-8 in the
name and on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the undersigned, as a
director or officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to the Form S-8 and
any instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or in connection with
the Form S-8 or amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, including this power of
attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable
securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed these presents this
6th day of December, 1996.


                     By:   /s/ WESLEY R. ELINGBURG
                          Wesley R. Elingburg, Executive Vice President, Chief
                          Financial Officer, and Treasurer

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