EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Amounts in Millions, Except Per Share Data	2011		2010		2011		2010
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	$	969	$	949	$	2,857	$	2,619
Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares		(2)		(4)		(6)		(11)
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS common shareholders	$	967	$	945	$	2,851	$	2,608
Earnings per share - basic	$	0.57	$	0.55	$	1.67	$	1.52
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic		1,698		1,712		1,703		1,715
Contingently convertible debt common stock equivalents		1		1		1		1
Incremental shares attributable to share-based compensation plans		16		13		13		10
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted		1,715		1,726		1,717		1,726
Earnings per share - diluted	$	0.56	$	0.55	$	1.66	$	1.51
Anti-dilutive weighted-average equivalent shares - stock incentive plans		11		48		28		64