Segment Data - Financial Information for Company's Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 7,708,382	[1]	$ 7,584,037	[1]	$ 7,124,385	[1]
Total Segment Operating Income	2,077,031		2,095,778		1,985,540
Unallocated Expenses	(604,623)	[2]	(477,891)	[2]	(418,799)	[2]
Total Segment Assets	11,360,909		10,430,428		9,650,694
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	1,472,408		1,617,887		1,566,741
Total Capital Expenditures	487,430		508,817		530,969
Total Depreciation and Amortization	510,938		493,768		491,416
Medical [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	4,090,693	[1]	4,007,304	[1]	3,796,432	[1]
Total Segment Operating Income	1,162,466		1,181,404		1,118,319
Total Segment Assets	4,244,652		3,928,241		3,527,457
Total Capital Expenditures	363,426		366,915		368,857
Total Depreciation and Amortization	239,591		248,091		253,109
Diagnostics [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	2,538,055	[1]	2,480,477	[1]	2,318,879	[1]
Total Segment Operating Income	652,873		636,361		607,411
Total Segment Assets	2,461,925		2,269,797		2,301,586
Total Capital Expenditures	100,512		93,435		108,941
Total Depreciation and Amortization	174,974		163,313		163,392
Biosciences [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Revenues	1,079,634	[1]	1,096,256	[1]	1,009,074	[1]
Total Segment Operating Income	261,692		278,013		259,810
Total Segment Assets	1,407,096		1,332,246		1,059,774
Total Capital Expenditures	13,883		30,652		43,484
Total Depreciation and Amortization	78,558		66,540		61,622
Total Segment Assets [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total Segment Assets	8,113,673		7,530,284		6,888,817
Corporate and All Other [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total Segment Assets	3,247,236	[3]	2,900,144	[3]	2,761,877	[3]
Total Capital Expenditures	9,609		17,815		9,687
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$ 17,815		$ 15,824		$ 13,293

[1] Intersegment revenues are not material.

[2] Includes primarily interest, net; foreign exchange; corporate expenses; and share-based compensation expense.

[3] Includes cash and investments and corporate assets.