This element represents the change in additional paid in capital related to debt conversion to treasury stock recognized during the period as expense in the income statement and the change in additional paid in capital attributable to shares issued from treasury stock for share converted.

No definition available.

EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,	$ 221us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at March 31,	221us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,	1,507us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at March 31,	1,314us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,	32,541
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	1,186us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	937us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Retained Earnings, Balance at March 31,	33,110
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,	547us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at March 31,	541us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,	(16,992)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at March 31,	(16,683)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,	131us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at March 31,	143us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,			2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at March 31,	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,			221	221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at March 31,	221	221	221	221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,	1,507	1,922
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par	(193)	(457)
Debt Conversion, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock		(16)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at March 31,	1,314	1,449
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,	32,541	32,952
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	1,186	937
Cash dividends declared	(617)	(598)
Retained Earnings, Balance at March 31,	33,110	33,291
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,	547	559
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares	(6)	(7)
Debt conversion, Shares		(1)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at March 31,	541	551
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,	(16,992)	(17,800)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost	309	544
Debt conversion, cost		35
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at March 31,	(16,683)	(17,221)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,	131	82
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	15	(1)
Distributions	(3)	(23)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at March 31,	$ 143	$ 58