Segment Data - Financial Information for Company's Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,166	$ 3,035	$ 2,969	$ 2,922	$ 3,231	$ 3,198	$ 3,067	$ 2,986	$ 12,093	$ 12,483	$ 10,282
Income Before Income Taxes									976	1,074	739
Acquisitions and other restructurings									354	728	426
Total Assets	37,734				25,586				37,734	25,586	26,478
Total Capital Expenditures									727	693	596
Total Depreciation and Amortization									1,088	1,114	891
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Before Income Taxes									2,927	2,845	2,368
Total Assets	22,388				23,002				22,388	23,002	23,987
Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									8,105	8,654	6,460
Income Before Income Taxes									2,155	2,052	1,530
Total Assets	18,332				19,154				18,332	19,154	20,055
Total Capital Expenditures									502	482	414
Total Depreciation and Amortization									825	857	619
Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									3,988	3,829	3,822
Income Before Income Taxes									772	793	839
Total Assets	4,056				3,848				4,056	3,848	3,932
Total Capital Expenditures									212	200	168
Total Depreciation and Amortization									254	254	256
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisitions and other restructurings									354	728	426
Net interest expense									(445)	(367)	(356)
Corporate and All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Before Income Taxes									(1,152)	(676)	(847)
Total Assets	$ 15,347				$ 2,584				15,347	2,584	2,491
Total Capital Expenditures									13	12	14
Total Depreciation and Amortization									$ 10	$ 3	$ 17