Segment Data (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Revenues by organizational units
Revenues	$ 7,828,904	$ 7,372,333	$ 6,986,722
Medical [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	4,007,304	3,796,432	3,556,694
Medical Surgical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	2,081,733	2,010,009	1,889,314
Diabetes Care [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	866,477	785,759	714,937
Pharmaceutical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,059,094	1,000,664	952,443
Diagnostics [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	2,480,477	2,318,879	2,226,219
Preanalytical Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,277,793	1,197,807	1,143,431
Diagnostic Systems [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,202,684	1,121,072	1,082,788
Biosciences [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,341,123	1,257,022	1,203,809
Cell Analysis [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	1,024,445	951,238	904,517
Discovery Labware [Member]
Revenues by organizational units
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment, Total	$ 316,678	$ 305,784	$ 299,292