Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Notes)	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Definitive Agreement to Acquire C.R. Bard, Inc. On April 23, 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement under which BD will acquire C. R. Bard, Inc. ("Bard") for $317.00 per Bard common share in cash and stock, for a total consideration of approximately $24 billion. The combination will create a highly differentiated medical technology company uniquely positioned to improve both the process of care and the treatment of disease for patients and healthcare providers. Under the terms of the transaction, Bard common shareholders will be entitled to receive approximately $222.93 in cash and 0.5077 shares of BD stock per Bard share, or a total of value of $317.00 per Bard common share based on BD's closing price on April 21, 2017. At closing, Bard shareholders will own approximately 15 percent of the combined company. The Company has secured access to $15.7 billion of fully committed bridge financing and expects to permanently finance the transaction with approximately $1.7 billion of available cash, as well as, subject to market conditions, approximately $10 billion of new debt, approximately $4.5 billion of equity and equity-linked securities issued to the market, and approximately $8 billion of BD common stock. The transaction is subject to regulatory and Bard shareholder approval and customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fall of 2017. Amendment to Dispensing Equipment Leases In April 2017, in conjunction with the implementation of a new “go-to-market” business model for the Company's U.S. dispensing business within the Medication Management Solutions (“MMS”) unit of the Medical segment, the Company amended the terms of certain customer leases for dispensing equipment within the MMS unit. The modification provided customers the ability to reduce its dispensing asset base via a return provision, resulting in a more flexible lease term. Prior to the modification, these leases were accounted for as sales-type leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840, "Leases", as the non-cancellable lease term of five years exceeded 75% of the equipment’s estimated useful life and the present value of the minimum lease payments exceeded 90% of the equipment’s fair value. As a result of the lease modifications, the Company is required to reassess the classification of the leases due to the amended lease term. Accordingly, most amended lease contracts will be classified as operating leases beginning in April 2017. The change in lease classification will require the derecognition of the net investment in sales-type leases and the recognition of the underlying leased assets on the Company’s balance sheet as of the effective date, and will result in an estimated non-cash, net charge to earnings of approximately $400-$500 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. Beginning April 1, 2017 revenue associated with these modified contracts will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term, along with depreciation on the reinstated leased assets.

Subsequent Events

Definitive Agreement to Acquire C.R. Bard, Inc.

On April 23, 2017, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement under which BD will acquire C. R. Bard, Inc. ("Bard") for $317.00 per Bard common share in cash and stock, for a total consideration of approximately $24 billion. The combination will create a highly differentiated medical technology company uniquely positioned to improve both the process of care and the treatment of disease for patients and healthcare providers.

Under the terms of the transaction, Bard common shareholders will be entitled to receive approximately $222.93 in cash and 0.5077 shares of BD stock per Bard share, or a total of value of $317.00 per Bard common share based on BD's closing price on April 21, 2017. At closing, Bard shareholders will own approximately 15 percent of the combined company. The Company has secured access to $15.7 billion of fully committed bridge financing and expects to permanently finance the transaction with approximately $1.7 billion of available cash, as well as, subject to market conditions, approximately $10 billion of new debt, approximately $4.5 billion of equity and equity-linked securities issued to the market, and approximately $8 billion of BD common stock. The transaction is subject to regulatory and Bard shareholder approval and customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fall of 2017.

Amendment to Dispensing Equipment Leases

In April 2017, in conjunction with the implementation of a new “go-to-market” business model for the Company's U.S. dispensing business within the Medication Management Solutions (“MMS”) unit of the Medical segment, the Company amended the terms of certain customer leases for dispensing equipment within the MMS unit. The modification provided customers the ability to reduce its dispensing asset base via a return provision, resulting in a more flexible lease term. Prior to the modification, these leases were accounted for as sales-type leases in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 840, "Leases", as the non-cancellable lease term of five years exceeded 75% of the equipment’s estimated useful life and the present value of the minimum lease payments exceeded 90% of the equipment’s fair value. As a result of the lease modifications, the Company is required to reassess the classification of the leases due to the amended lease term. Accordingly, most amended lease contracts will be classified as operating leases beginning in April 2017. The change in lease classification will require the derecognition of the net investment in sales-type leases and the recognition of the underlying leased assets on the Company’s balance sheet as of the effective date, and will result in an estimated non-cash, net charge to earnings of approximately $400-$500 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. Beginning April 1, 2017 revenue associated with these modified contracts will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term, along with depreciation on the reinstated leased assets.