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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AFESrnwtUv42+HzR85dSrsmu1fpwKhL3bl60xD4YDpFFMA4jIKTGcVqENTdCElr6
 7SO8pnc4Q0k6vIL9jWFRxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-013609.txt : 20030710
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-013609.hdr.sgml : 20030710
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030710123442
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-013609
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030709
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030710

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOOPER MICHELE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201723

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14106
		FILM NUMBER:		03781476

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 NICOLLET MALL
		STREET 2:		TPS-3155
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6126963459

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVITA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000927066
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				510354549
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21250 HAWTHORNE BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			TORRANCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90503-5517
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3107922600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21250 HAWTHORNE BLVD SUITE 800
		CITY:			TORRANCE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90503-5517

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOTAL RENAL CARE HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950524

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOTAL RENAL CARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940719
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12799.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MICHELE HOOPER'S FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DAVITA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201723</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOOPER MICHELE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>27.37</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-09</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>15000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-07-09</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2008-07-09</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on July 9, 2004.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/ Michele J. Hooper</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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