SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report:  December 23, 2004

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada	1-7293	95-2557091
(State of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

3820 State Street

Santa Barbara, California  93105

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

 

(805) 563-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

ITEM 8.01        Other Events.

 

                On December 23, 2004, Tenet Healthcare Corporation issued a press release announcing that a subsidiary which operates Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach, Fla., had agreed in principle to settle 106 individual lawsuits filed against the hospital that alleged the plaintiffs had suffered post-surgical infections after having cardiac surgeries at the facility.  Under the agreement, Tenet will pay $31 million to the plaintiffs and their counsel.  The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	TENET HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
	By:	/s/ Trevor Fetter
		Trevor Fetter
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date:  December 23, 2004

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

99.1         Press Release issued on December 23, 2004

 

 

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