Segment and Geographic Area Information (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information
Operating Earnings	$ 8,084,515,000	$ 5,751,948,000	$ 6,087,581,000
Net loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,350,973,000)
Share-based compensation	(433,000,000)	(383,000,000)	(385,000,000)
Earnings Before Taxes	6,262,614,000	5,198,642,000	5,712,834,000
Segment assets:
Current deferred income taxes	2,986,216,000	2,700,540,000	3,076,051,000
Total Assets	67,234,944,000	60,276,893,000	60,573,852,000
Total Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Operating Earnings	11,910,000,000	10,999,000,000	9,776,000,000
Segment assets:
Total Assets	30,521,000,000	29,902,000,000	30,247,000,000
Non-reportable segments
Segment Reporting Information
Operating Earnings	335,000,000	276,000,000	139,000,000
Segment assets:
Total Assets	4,413,000,000	4,173,000,000	5,385,000,000
Unallocated amount
Segment Reporting Information
Corporate functions and benefit plans costs	(651,000,000)	(529,000,000)	(558,000,000)
Net interest expense	(513,000,000)	(445,000,000)	(448,000,000)
Net loss on extinguishment of debt	(1,351,000,000)
Acquired in-process and collaborations research and development	(288,000,000)	(673,000,000)	(313,000,000)
Share-based compensation	(433,000,000)	(383,000,000)	(387,000,000)
Other, net	(2,746,000,000)	(4,046,000,000)	(2,496,000,000)
Previously disclosed government investigation		1,509,000,000
Separation related costs and cost reduction initiatives and integration	1,309,000,000	402,000,000	881,000,000
Segment assets:
Cash, investments and restricted funds	15,448,000,000	8,476,000,000	7,626,000,000
Current deferred income taxes	2,986,000,000	2,701,000,000	3,076,000,000
All other, net, primarily goodwill and intangible assets not allocated to reportable segments	$ 13,867,000,000	$ 15,025,000,000	$ 14,240,000,000