EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Treasury Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Treasury Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,													2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at December 31,													2,205,000,000	2,205,000,000
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,				$ 220					$ 220				$ 220	$ 220
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at December 31,	221				220				221	220			220	220
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,				3,114				3,682	3,114	3,682	3,768
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock									(420)	(568)	(86)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	2,694				3,114				2,694	3,114	3,682
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				33,069				31,636	33,069	31,636	30,760
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS	925	(711)	645	1,101	852	969	902	986	1,960	3,709	3,102
Cash dividends declared									2,296	2,276	2,226
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	32,733				33,069				32,733	33,069	31,636
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				515,000,000				501,000,000	515,000,000	501,000,000	491,000,000					17,454,000,000	17,364,000,000
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock									73,000,000	42,000,000	23,000,000
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares												3,000,000			(18,000,000)	(28,000,000)	(13,000,000)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	570,000,000				515,000,000				570,000,000	515,000,000	501,000,000						17,454,000,000
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				(17,402)					(17,402)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost												1			986	1,278	497
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock															(2,407)	(1,226)	(587)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	(18,823)				(17,402)				(18,823)	(17,402)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				(89)				(75)	(89)	(75)	(58)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest									850	2,333	2,091
Other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(6)	7
Distributions									(740)	(2,354)	(2,108)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	15				(89)				15	(89)	(75)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest, tax									317	792	683
The increase in authorization of common stock repurchases									3,000
Stock repurchase program, Authorized amount											$ 3,000