EXHIBIT 5(a)



                                            December 10, 1997



Tenet Healthcare Corporation
3820 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA  93105

Gentlemen:

    I am the General Counsel of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), and in such capacity I have examined the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), for the registration
of 20,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.075 par value per share (the
"Shares"), that may be offered for sale by the person listed under the heading
"Selling Shareholder" in the Registration Statement.

    I have examined and am familiar with originals or copies, certified or
otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records,
certificates of public officials and officers of the Company and such other
instruments as I have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the
opinions expressed below.

    Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares are duly
authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

    I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5(a) to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to me in the Prospectus incorporated
therein.  In giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I come within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Scott M. Brown

                                       Scott M. Brown