Segment Information (Segment Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 22,284	$ 17,911	$ 17,049
Operating profit	4,231	3,269	3,055
Identifiable assets	76,161	62,082	47,833
Depreciation and amortization	1,775	1,189	1,178
Capital expenditures, gross	791	636	584
Discontinued operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	0	0	5,842
Operating segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	10,576	6,951	6,471
Operating profit	2,054	1,401	1,229
Depreciation and amortization	1,053	487	471
Capital expenditures, gross	306	143	140
Operating segments | Life Sciences | Continuing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	48,919	22,381	22,122
Operating segments | Diagnostics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	7,403	6,561	6,258
Operating profit	1,538	1,134	1,074
Depreciation and amortization	602	582	589
Capital expenditures, gross	447	435	380
Operating segments | Diagnostics | Continuing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	15,042	14,442	14,031
Operating segments | Environmental & Applied Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	4,305	4,399	4,320
Operating profit	979	1,052	988
Depreciation and amortization	110	111	109
Capital expenditures, gross	36	54	57
Operating segments | Environmental & Applied Solutions | Continuing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	5,083	4,882	4,637
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(340)	(318)	(236)
Depreciation and amortization	10	9	9
Capital expenditures, gross	2	4	7
Other | Continuing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 7,117	$ 20,377	$ 1,201