Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Y	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Change in goodwill due to foreign currency translation and other adjustments		$ 300,000,000
Goodwill	15,708,924,000		15,705,380,000
Gross amount of amortizable intangible assets	17,600,000,000		17,500,000,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	9,400,000,000		8,300,000,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets related to in-process research and development acquired in a business combination	764,000,000		814,000,000
Estimated annual amortization expense, intangible assets, 2012	1,500,000,000
Estimated annual amortization expense, intangible assets, 2013	1,300,000,000
Estimated annual amortization expense, intangible assets, 2014	1,000,000,000
Estimated annual amortization expense, intangible assets, 2015	861,000,000
Estimated annual amortization expense, intangible assets, 2016	745,000,000
Minimum amortization period, intangible assets (in years)	2
Maximum amortization period, intangible assets (in years)	30
Average amortization period, intangible assets (in years)	11
Proprietary Pharmaceutical Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	6,200,000,000
Established Pharmaceutical Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	3,000,000,000
Nutritional Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	209,000,000
Diagnostic Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	385,000,000
Vascular Products
Goodwill and intangible assets information
Goodwill	$ 2,600,000,000