<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

        THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of May 22, 2002 by and among LifePoint Hospitals Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and UBS Warburg LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., Salomon Smith
Barney Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, and Fleet Securities, Inc. (the
"Initial Purchasers"), pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of
May 17, 2002 (the "Purchase Agreement") among the Company and the Initial
Purchasers.

        In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth
in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing
under the Purchase Agreement.

        The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers (i) for their benefit as
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including
the Initial Purchasers) from time to time of the Notes (as defined herein) and
the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common Stock (as
defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the foregoing a
"Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:

        Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

        "Additional Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

        "Affiliate" means with respect to any specified person, an "affiliate,"
as defined in Rule 144, of such person.

        "Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(d) hereof.

        "Applicable Conversion Price" means, as of any date of determination,
$1,000 divided by the Conversion Rate then in effect as of the date of
determination or, if no Notes are then outstanding, the Conversion Rate that
would be in effect were Notes then outstanding.

        "Business Day" means each day on which the Nasdaq National Market is
open for trading.

        "Common Stock" means the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company and any other shares of capital stock as may constitute
Common Stock for purposes of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common
Stock.

        "Conversion Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Indenture.

        "Damages Accrual Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.

<PAGE>

        "Damages Payment Date" means each interest payment date under the
Indenture in the case of Notes, and each June 1 and December 1 in the case of
the Underlying Common Stock.

        "Effectiveness Deadline Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.

        "Effectiveness Period" means a period (subject to extension pursuant to
Section 3(i) hereof) of two years after the later of (i) the original issuance
of the Notes and (ii) the last date that the Company or any of its Affiliates
was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto), or such shorter period
of time (x) as permitted by Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or any
successor provisions thereunder or (y) that will terminate when each of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
a Registrable Security.

        "Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

        "Event Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

        "Filing Deadline Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

        "Holder" has the meaning set forth in the third paragraph of this
Agreement.

        "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2002 between the
Company and National City Bank, as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are
being issued.

        "Initial Purchasers" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

        "Initial Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a) hereof.

        "Issue Date" means the first date of original issuance of the Notes.

        "Material Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.

        "Notes" means the 4 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 of the
Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

        "Notice and Questionnaire" means a written notice and questionnaire
delivered to the Company containing substantially the information called for by
the Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Annex A to the
Offering Memorandum dated May 17, 2002, relating to the Notes.

        "Notice Holder" means, on any date, any Holder that has delivered a
Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date, so long as all
of their Registrable


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<PAGE>

Securities that have been registered for resale pursuant to a Notice and
Questionnaire have not been sold in accordance with a Shelf Registration
Statement.

        "Purchase Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereof.

        "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Shelf Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 415 promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any amendment or prospectus
supplement, including post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated
by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus.

        "Record Holder" means (i) with respect to any Damages Payment Date
relating to any Notes as to which any such Additional Amount has accrued, the
holder of record of such Note on the record date with respect to the interest
payment date under the Indenture on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur
and (ii) with respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to the Underlying
Common Stock as to which any such Additional Amount has accrued, the registered
holder of such Underlying Common Stock fifteen (15) days prior to such Damages
Payment Date.

        "Registrable Securities" means the Notes until such Notes have been
converted into the Underlying Common Stock and, at all times the Underlying
Common Stock and any securities into or for which such Underlying Common Stock
has been converted, and any security issued with respect thereto upon any stock
dividend, split or similar event until, in the case of any such security, the
earliest of (x) the date on which such security has been effectively registered
under the Securities Act and disposed of, whether or not in accordance with the
Shelf Registration Statement and (y) the date that is two years after the later
of (1) the Issue Date and (2) the last date that the Company or any of its
Affiliates was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto), or such
shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
any successor provisions thereunder.

        "Registration Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

        "Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company
that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.

        "Rule 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the SEC.


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<PAGE>

        "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.

        "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

        "Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.

        "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.

        "Suspension Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.

        "Suspension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(i) hereof.

        "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

        "Trustee" means National City Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture.

        "Underlying Common Stock" means the Common Stock into which the Notes
are convertible or issued upon any such conversion.

        Section 2. Shelf Registration. (a) The Company shall prepare and file or
cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable but in any
event by the date (the "Filing Deadline Date") that is ninety (90) days after
the Issue Date, a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf
Registration Statement") registering the resale from time to time by Holders
thereof of all of the Registrable Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration
Statement"). The Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 or
S-3 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable
Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with the reasonable methods
of distribution elected by the Holders, approved by the Company, and set forth
in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement. The Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable but in
any event by the date (the "Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is one hundred
eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder on or prior to the
date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be
named as a selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver
such Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with
applicable law.


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<PAGE>

        (b)     If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent
Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time
during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such
cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a manner
reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement
covering all of the securities that as of the date of such filing are
Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement"). If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as promptly as is practicable after such filing and to keep
such Shelf Registration Statement (or subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.

        (c)     The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration
Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to
the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement,
if required by the Securities Act or, to the extent approved by the Company, as
reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by the Trustee on behalf of
the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration
Statement.

        (d)     Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such Holder
wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement
and related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d)
and Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related
Prospectus agrees to deliver a completed and executed Notice and Questionnaire
to the Company prior to any attempted or actual distribution of Registrable
Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement; provided that Holders of
Registrable Securities shall have at least twenty (20) Business Days from the
date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first sent to such Holders by the
Company to complete and return the Notice and Questionnaire to the Company. From
and after the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the date a Notice
and Questionnaire is delivered, and in any event within the later of (x) five
(5) Business Days after such date or (y) five (5) Business Days after the
expiration of any Suspension Period (1) in effect when the Notice and
Questionnaire is delivered or (2) put into effect within five (5) Business Days
of such delivery date, (i) if required by applicable law, file with the SEC a
post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or, if allowed by
applicable law, prepare and file a supplement to the related Prospectus or a
supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or
file any other required document so that the Holder delivering such Notice and
Questionnaire is named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder
to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in
accordance with applicable law and, if the Company shall file a post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective under the
Securities Act as



                                       5
<PAGE>

promptly as is practicable, but in any event by the date (the "Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is thirty (30) days after the date such
post-effective amendment is required by this clause to be filed; (ii) provide
such Holder a reasonable number of copies of any documents filed pursuant to
Section 2(d)(i); and (iii) notify such Holder as promptly as practicable after
the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed
pursuant to Section 2(d) (i); provided that if such Notice and Questionnaire is
delivered during a Suspension Period, or a Suspension Period is put into effect
within five (5) Business Days after such delivery date, the Company shall so
inform the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the
actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above within five (5) Business
Days after expiration of the Suspension Period in accordance with Section 3(i);
provided, further, that if under applicable law, the Company has more than one
option as to the type or manner of making any such filing, the Company shall
make the required filing or filings in the manner or of a type that is
reasonably expected to result in the earliest availability of the Prospectus for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to name any
Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in any Shelf
Registration Statement or related Prospectus; provided, however, that any Holder
that becomes a Notice Holder pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2(d)
(whether or not such Holder was a Notice Holder at the time the Shelf
Registration Statement was declared effective) shall be named as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or related Prospectus in
accordance with the requirements of this Section 2(d).

        (e)     The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Deadline Date, (ii) the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective under the
Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline Date or (iii) the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement is filed and declared effective but shall
thereafter cease to be effective (without being succeeded immediately by an
additional registration statement filed and declared effective) or usable for
the offer and sale of Registrable Securities for a period of time (including any
Suspension Period) which shall exceed forty-five (45) days in the aggregate in
any three (3) month period or ninety (90) days in the aggregate in any twelve
(12) month period (each of the events of a type described in any of the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) are individually referred to herein as an
"Event," and the Filing Deadline Date in the case of clause (i), the
Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (ii), the date on which the
duration of the ineffectiveness or unusability of the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement in any period exceeds the number of days permitted by clause (iii)
hereof in the case of clause (iii), being referred to herein as an "Event
Date"). Events shall be deemed to continue until the following dates with
respect to the respective types of Events: the date the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is filed in the case of an Event of the type described in
clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared
effective under the Securities Act in the case of an Event of the type described
in clause (ii), and the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement becomes
effective or usable again in the case of an Event of the type described in
clause (iii).


                                       6
<PAGE>

        Accordingly, commencing on (and including) any Event Date and ending on
(but excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have occurred
and are continuing (a "Damages Accrual Period"), the Company agrees to pay as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty an amount (the "Additional Amount"),
which shall constitute additional interest when paid to holders of Notes,
calculated at the rate described below, payable periodically on each Damages
Payment Date to Record Holders of Notes that are Registrable Securities and of
shares of Underlying Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes that are
Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to the extent of, for each such
Damages Payment Date, accrued and unpaid Additional Amount to (but excluding)
such Damages Payment Date (or, if the Damages Accrual Period shall have ended
prior to such Damages Payment Date, the date of the end of the Damages Accrual
Period); provided that any Additional Amount accrued with respect to any Note or
portion thereof called for redemption on a redemption date or converted into
Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date prior to the Damages Payment Date,
shall, in any such event, be paid instead to the Holder who submitted such Note
or portion thereof for redemption or conversion on the applicable redemption
date or conversion date, as the case may be, on such date (or promptly following
the conversion date, in the case of conversion). The Additional Amount shall
accrue at a rate per annum equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) for the
first 90-day period from the Event Date, and thereafter at a rate per annum
equal to one-half of one percent (0.5%) of (i) the principal amount of such
Notes or, without duplication, (ii) in the case of Notes that have been
converted into Underlying Common Stock, the Applicable Conversion Price of such
shares of Underlying Common Stock, as the case may be, in each case determined
as of the Business Day immediately preceding the next Damages Payment Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Additional Amount shall accrue as to any
Registrable Security from and after the earlier of (x) the date such security is
no longer a Registrable Security and (y) expiration of the Effectiveness Period.
The rate of accrual of the Additional Amount with respect to any period shall
not exceed the rate provided for in this paragraph notwithstanding the
occurrence of multiple concurrent Events. Following the cure of all Events
requiring the payment by the Company of Additional Amount to the Holders of
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section, the accrual of Additional
Amount shall cease (without in any way limiting the effect of any subsequent
Event requiring the payment of Additional Amount by the Company).

        The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Notes, to seek
any available remedy for the enforcement of this Agreement, including for the
payment of any Additional Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
agree that the sole damages payable for a violation of the terms of this
Agreement with respect to which payment of an Additional Amount is expressly
provided shall be such Additional Amount.

        All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that are
outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such security
ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(k)).


                                       7
<PAGE>

        The parties hereto agree that the Additional Amount provided for in this
Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the
Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or available for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the provisions
hereof.

        Section 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall:

        (a)     Prepare and file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement or
Shelf Registration Statements on Form S-1 or S-3 or any other appropriate form
under the Securities Act available to cover resales of the Registrable
Securities by the Holders thereof in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause
each such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective
as provided herein; provided that before filing any Shelf Registration Statement
or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto with the SEC, the Company
shall furnish to the Initial Purchasers copies of all such documents proposed to
be filed and, in the event that the Initial Purchasers (with respect to any
portion of an unsold allotment of Notes) is participating in the Shelf
Registration, use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document
when so filed with the SEC such comments as the Initial Purchasers reasonably
shall propose within three (3) Business Days of the delivery of such copies to
the Initial Purchasers.

        (b)     Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; and
use its reasonable best efforts to comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by such Shelf Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set
forth in such Shelf Registration Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as
so supplemented.

        (c)     As promptly as practicable give notice to the Initial Purchasers
and Notice Holders (i) when any Prospectus, Prospectus supplement, Shelf
Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
Statement has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a Shelf Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has been declared
effective, (ii) of any request, following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal
or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to any Shelf
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Shelf
Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for
that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any written notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification or



                                       8
<PAGE>

exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) after the effective date of any Shelf Registration Statement filed
pursuant to this Agreement, of the occurrence of (but not the nature of or
details concerning) a Material Event and (vi) of the determination by the
Company that a post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement will
be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the Company (or as
required pursuant to Section 3(i)), state that it constitutes a Suspension
Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply.

        (d)     Use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of, and,
if issued, to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of
a Shelf Registration Statement or the lifting of any suspension of the
qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been qualified for
sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment, and provide prompt notice
to each Notice Holder and the Initial Purchasers of the withdrawal of any such
order.

        (e)     If reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or any Notice
Holder, as promptly as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement such information as
the Initial Purchasers or such Notice Holder shall determine to be required to
be included therein by applicable law and make any required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment; provided that the
Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 3(e) that,
in the written opinion of counsel for the Company, are not in compliance with
applicable law.

        (f)     As promptly as practicable following request, furnish to each
Notice Holder and the Initial Purchasers, without charge, at least one (1)
conformed copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto,
including financial statements but excluding schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits
(unless requested in writing to the Company by such Notice Holder, or the
Initial Purchasers).

        (g)     During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice Holder
and the Initial Purchasers, in connection with any sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto
as such Notice Holder and the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request; and the
Company hereby consents (except during such periods that a Suspension Notice is
outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of such Prospectus or each
amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder, in connection with any
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth therein.

        (h)     Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to
register or qualify or cooperate with the Notice Holders in connection with the
registration or qualification (or



                                       9
<PAGE>

exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests
in writing (which request may be included in the Notice and Questionnaire);
prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period in connection with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of such
Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the relevant Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided that the Company
will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.

        (i)     Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of
proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d)
or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence
of any fact as a result of which any Shelf Registration Statement shall contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or (C) the occurrence or existence of any pending
corporate development (a "Material Event") that, in the reasonable discretion of
the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf
Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, (i) in the case of clause (B)
or (C) above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as practicable, prepare
and file, if necessary pursuant to applicable law, a post-effective amendment to
such Shelf Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or
any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document that would be incorporated by reference into such Shelf Registration
Statement and Prospectus so that such Shelf Registration Statement does not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and such Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (it being understood that the Company may rely on
information provided by each Notice Holder with respect to such Notice Holder),
as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being
sold thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Shelf
Registration Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its reasonable best
efforts to cause it to be declared effective as promptly as is practicable, and
(ii) give notice to the Notice Holders that the availability of the Shelf
Registration Statement is suspended (a "Suspension Notice") and, upon receipt of
any Suspension Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement until such Notice
Holder's



                                       10
<PAGE>

receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in
clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the
Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
in such Prospectus. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure
that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case of clause (A)
above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as
soon as, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, the Shelf Registration
Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and the Prospectus does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and (z) in the case of clause (C) above,
as soon as, in the reasonable discretion of the Company, such suspension is no
longer appropriate. The period during which the availability of the Shelf
Registration Statement and any Prospectus may be suspended (the "Suspension
Period") without the Company incurring any obligation to pay the Additional
Amount pursuant to Section 2(e) shall not exceed forty-five (45) days in any
three (3) month period and ninety (90) days in any twelve (12) month period. The
Effectiveness Period shall be extended by the number of days from and including
the date of the giving of the Suspension Notice to and including the date on
which the Notice Holder received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus provided in clause (i) above, or the date on which it is advised in
writing by the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

        (j)     Make available for inspection during normal business hours by
representatives for the Notice Holders of such Registrable Securities, and any
broker-dealers, attorneys and accountants retained by such Notice Holders, all
relevant financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate
officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to make
available for inspection during normal business hours all relevant information
reasonably requested by such representatives for the Notice Holders, or any such
broker-dealers, attorneys or accountants in connection with such disposition, in
each case as is customary for similar "due diligence" examinations; provided,
however, that such persons shall, at the Company's request, first agree in
writing with the Company that any information that is reasonably and in good
faith designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of
delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such persons and
shall be used solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement,
unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative
order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii)
disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure
requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing
of any Shelf Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in
this Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any
such person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement or is not otherwise



                                       11
<PAGE>

under a duty of trust to the Company; and provided that the foregoing inspection
and information gathering shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated
on behalf of all the Notice Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by
the counsel referred to in Section 5.

        (k)     Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders
earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule
promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any
12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company commencing after the effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement,
which statements shall cover said 12-month periods.

        (l)     Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, which certificates shall not
bear any restrictive legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in such
names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least two (2) Business
Days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.

        (m)     Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by
each Shelf Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such
Shelf Registration Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for
the Common Stock with certificates for the Registrable Securities that are in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

        (n)     Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

        (o)     Upon (i) the filing of the Initial Registration Statement and
(ii) the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, announce the same,
in each case by release to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business
News.

        (p)     Enter into such customary agreements and take all such other
necessary actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to
expedite or facilitate disposition of such Registrable Securities.

        (q)     Cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than
the effective date of any Shelf Registration Statement; and in connection
therewith, cooperate with the Trustee to effect such changes to the Indenture as
may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
terms of the TIA and execute, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and
all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the
Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.


                                       12
<PAGE>

        Section 4. Holder's Obligations. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of
the Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless such
Holder has furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required
pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof (including the information required to be
included in such Notice and Questionnaire) and the information set forth in the
next sentence. Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other
information regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.
Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by such Holder that the information relating to such
Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the Prospectus delivered
by such Holder in connection with such disposition, that such Prospectus does
not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue statement of a material fact
relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution and that such
Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale omit to state any material fact
relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary in
order to make the statements in such Prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

        Section 5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under Section 2 and 3 of this Agreement whether or not any of the
Shelf Registration Statements are declared effective. Such fees and expenses
("Registration Expenses") shall include, without limitation, (i) all
registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses
(x) with respect to filings required to be made with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance with federal and state securities
or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
disbursements of one firm of counsel for the Holders, which firm shall be Dewey
Ballantine LLP unless another firm is designated by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of Notes being sold, in connection with Blue Sky qualifications
of the Registrable Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions, (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The
Depository Trust Company), (iii) duplication and mailing expenses relating to
copies of any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus delivered to any
Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
the fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel for the Holders, which firm
shall be Dewey Ballantine LLP unless another firm is designated by the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of Notes being sold, in connection with the
Shelf Registration Statement, (v) fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its
counsel and of the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and (vi)
Securities Act liability insurance obtained by the Company in its sole
discretion. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the
Company (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers
and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing by the
Company of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which
similar securities of the



                                       13
<PAGE>

Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including
special experts, retained by the Company. The Holders shall be responsible for
all other fees and expenses, such as brokerage fees, agency fees, transfer
taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions.

        Section 6. Indemnification; Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Holder and each person who controls any
Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act (each, a "Holder Indemnified Party"), from and against any
loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of
investigation) which such Holder Indemnified Party may incur under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Shelf
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in any Shelf
Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or arises out of or is based upon
any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements made in any Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as any such loss,
damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact
contained in, or omitted from, and in conformity with information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of any Holder to the Company expressly for use therein.

        (b)     Each Holder, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and any person
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Company Indemnified Party") from and
against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable
cost of investigation) which such Company Indemnified Party may incur under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage,
expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder to the Company expressly for
use in any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arises out of or is
based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to
be stated in any Shelf Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement
thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arises
out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements in any Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in connection
with such information. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of
Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the



                                       14
<PAGE>

proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.

        (c)     If any action, suit or proceeding (each, a "Proceeding") is
brought against any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to either subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 6, such person (the "Indemnified
Party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be
sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing of the institution of such
Proceeding and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense of such
Proceeding; provided, however, that the omission to notify such Indemnifying
Party shall not relieve such Indemnifying Party from any liability which it may
have to such Indemnified Party or otherwise. Such Indemnified Party shall have
the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by such
Indemnifying Party in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or such
Indemnifying Party shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense
of such Proceeding within 30 days of the receipt of notice thereof or such
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded upon the written advice of
counsel that there may be one or more defenses available to it that are
different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to such
Indemnifying Party (in which case such Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to direct that portion of the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the
Indemnified Party, but such Indemnifying Party may employ counsel and
participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such Indemnifying Party), in any of which events such
reasonable fees and expenses shall be borne by such Indemnifying Party and paid
as incurred (it being understood, however, that such Indemnifying Party shall
not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel in any one
Proceeding or series of related Proceedings together with reasonably necessary
local counsel representing the Indemnified Parties who are parties to such
action). An Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of such
Proceeding effected without the written consent of such Indemnifying Party, but
if settled with the written consent of such Indemnifying Party, such
Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless an Indemnified Party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Party
shall have requested an Indemnifying Party to reimburse such Indemnified Party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this
paragraph, then such Indemnifying Party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 60 Business Days after receipt by such
Indemnifying Party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such Indemnifying Party shall
not have reimbursed such Indemnified Party in accordance with such request prior
to the date of such settlement and (iii) such Indemnified Party shall have given
such Indemnifying Party at least 30 days' prior notice of its intention to
settle. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of any
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding
in respect of which such Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims



                                       15
<PAGE>

that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission
of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such Indemnified
Party.

        (d)     If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is
unavailable to an Indemnified Party under subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 6 in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims
referred to therein, then each applicable Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses,
liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the
other hand from the offering of the Registrable Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and of the Holders on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or
claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Holders on the other shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims
referred to above shall be deemed to include any reasonable legal or other fees
or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating
or defending any Proceeding.

        (e)     The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (d) above.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, no Holder shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Registrable Securities sold by it were offered to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages which it has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 are several in proportion
to the respective amount of Registrable Securities they have sold pursuant to a
Shelf Registration Statement, and not joint. The remedies provided for in this
Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

        (f)     The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, or the
Company's officers or directors or any



                                       16
<PAGE>

person controlling the Company and (iii) the sale of any Registrable Security by
any Holder.

        Section 7. Information Requirements. (a) The Company covenants that, if
at any time before the end of the Effectiveness Period it is not subject to the
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any Holder of
Registrable Securities and take such further action as any Holder of Registrable
Securities may reasonably request in writing (including, without limitation,
making such representations as any such Holder may reasonably request), all to
the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rule 144, Rule 144A, Regulation S and Regulation D
under the Securities Act and customarily taken in connection with sales pursuant
to such exemptions. Upon the written request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to
whether it has complied with such filing requirements, unless such a statement
has been included in the Company's most recent report filed with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to
register any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any section
of the Exchange Act.

        (b)     The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Exchange Act and shall comply with all other requirements set forth in
the instructions to Form S-1 or Form S-3, as the case may be, in order to allow
the Company to be eligible to file registration statements on Form S-1 or Form
S-3.

        Section 8. Miscellaneous. (a) No Conflicting Agreements. The Company is
not, as of the date hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of
this Agreement, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that
conflicts with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in
this Agreement. The Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to
the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with
the rights granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any other
agreements.

        (b)     Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of a majority of the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting
Registrable Securities (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders, for
purposes of this Section, of the number of outstanding shares of Underlying
Common Stock into which such Notes are or would be convertible as of the date on
which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of
Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Shelf
Registration Statement; provided that the provisions of



                                       17
<PAGE>

this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance
with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Each Holder of
Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment,
modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by any
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to
this Section 8(b), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the
Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder.

        (c)     Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier, by
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery,
(ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after
being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the
date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the
parties as follows:

        (x)     if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, at the most current
                address given by such Holder to the Company in a Notice and
                Questionnaire or any amendment thereto;

        (y)     if to the Company, to:

                LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
                103 Powell, Court, Suite 200
                Brentwood, Tenessee 37027
                Attention:  General Counsel
                Telecopy No.:  615-372-8572

        (z)     if to the Initial Purchasers, to:

                UBS Warburg LLC
                299 Park Avenue
                New York, New York 10171
                Attention: Syndicate Department
                Telecopy No.: (212) 713-1205

                with a copy to (for informational purposes only):

                UBS Warburg LLC
                299 Park Avenue
                New York, New York 10171
                Attention: Legal Department
                Telecopy No.: (212) 821-4042


                                       18
<PAGE>

                UBS Warburg LLC
                677 Washington Boulevard
                Stamford, Connecticut 06901
                Attention: Legal Department
                Telecopy No.: (203) 719-0683

or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 8(c) in writing in accordance herewith.

        (d)     Approval of Holders. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders
of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent Holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

        (e)     Successors and Assigns. Any person who purchases any Registrable
Securities from the Initial Purchasers or any Holder shall be deemed, for
purposes of this Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchasers or such
Holder, as the case may be. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties and shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon each Holder of any Registrable Securities.

        (f)     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

        (g)     Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

        (h)     Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

        (i)     Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use its best efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the
parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

        (j)     Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of



                                       19
<PAGE>

the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein and the registration rights granted by the Company with
respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as provided in the Purchase
Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings,
other than those set forth or referred to herein, with respect to the
registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable
Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings
among the parties with respect to such registration rights. No party hereto
shall have any rights, duties or obligations other than those specifically set
forth in this Agreement.

        (k)     Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Section 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for the Additional Amount under
Section 2(e) hereof to the extent such Additional Amount accrues prior to the
end of the Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in effect in
accordance with its terms.

        (l)     Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no
Proceeding may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the
courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which
courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the
Company hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service
with respect thereto. The Company hereby consents to personal jurisdiction,
service and venue in any court in which any Proceeding arising out of or in any
way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Initial
Purchasers. The Company hereby waives all right to trial by jury in any
Proceeding (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising
out of or relating to this Agreement. The Company agrees that a final judgment
in any such Proceeding brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Company and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of
which the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment. The Company
hereby appoints, without power of revocation, CT Corporation as its agent to
accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be
served in any Proceeding in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement.



                                       20
<PAGE>

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.



                                        LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.


                                        By: /s/ Kenneth C. Donahey
                                           -----------------------------------
                                              Name: Kenneth C. Donahey
                                                   ---------------------------
                                              Title: Chairman, Chief
                                                    --------------------------
                                                    Executive Officer and
                                                    --------------------------
                                                    President
                                                    --------------------------



Confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written:

UBS WARBURG LLC


By: /s/ William McGahan
   ------------------------------------
        Name: William McGahan
             --------------------------
        Title: Managing Director
              -------------------------


By:  /s/ Rod O'Neill
   ------------------------------------
        Name: Rod O'Neill
             --------------------------
        Title: Executive Director
              -------------------------