Opinion Letter – In-house Counsel – S-3 Registered Securities – Baxter International Inc.

December 19, 2011

Baxter International Inc.
One Baxter Parkway
Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Corporate Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of Baxter International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company“), and have advised the Company in connection with the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-160966) (the
“Registration Statement“), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to which the offer and sale of $500,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Company153s 1.850% Senior Notes due 2017 (the
“Notes“) were registered. The Notes are to be issued under the Indenture
dated as of August 8, 2006 (the “Base Indenture“) between the Company and
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in interest to
J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association), as Trustee (the
“Trustee“), and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental
Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture“)
dated as of December 19, 2011 between the Company and the Trustee.

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, I, or attorneys under my
supervision, have examined and relied upon such documents, corporate records,
certificates of public officials and certificates as to factual matters executed
by officers of the Company as I have deemed necessary or appropriate. I have
also assumed that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Trustee.

I have assumed the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents,
records and certificates submitted to me as originals, the conformity to the
originals of all documents, records and certificates submitted to me as copies
and the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the originals of all
documents, records and certificates submitted to me as copies. I have also
assumed the legal capacity and genuineness of the signatures of persons signing
all documents in connection with which the opinions expressed herein are
rendered.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications,
exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, it is my opinion that the Notes
will be legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
benefit of the Indenture, and enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws affecting creditors153 rights
generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, at
such time as: (a) the Notes have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the
Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Indenture
and (b) duly purchased and paid for by the underwriters for the Notes in
accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement dated December 14, 2011.

I am admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and I express no
opinions as to matters under or involving any laws other than the laws of the
State of Illinois and the Federal Laws of the United States of America.

I hereby consent to the use of my name under the heading “Legal Matters” in
the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement and to the use of this
opinion for filing with a Form 8-K as Exhibit 5.1 thereto. By giving this
consent, I do not admit that I come within the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.