CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net (loss) income	$ (116,025)	$ 159,559	$ (208,193)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	986,222	612,603	254,504
Amortization and write-down of discounts and debt issuance costs	36,402	27,103	21,472
In-process research and development impairments and other charges	189,901	109,200	89,245
Acquisition accounting adjustment on inventory sold	78,822	59,256	53,266
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	(5,266)	(10,986)
Allowances for losses on accounts receivable and inventories	21,779	5,519	6,887
Deferred income taxes	(319,603)	(222,959)	(55,403)
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	10,780	(5,314)
Additions to accrued legal settlements	56,779	11,841	52,610
Payments of accrued legal settlements	(41,800)	(26,541)	(44,450)
Share-based compensation	66,236	94,023	98,033
Tax benefits from stock options exercised	(12,541)	(26,533)
Foreign exchange (gain)	(23,839)	(4,829)	(1,539)
(Gain) loss on sale of marketable securities and other charges		(21,316)	11,603
Payment of accreted interest on contingent consideration	(2,322)
Other	(15,669)	16,966	7,020
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(219,431)	(164,581)	25,187
Inventories	(80,304)	(11,521)	7,463
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	54,827	(3,084)	7,394
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	(29,070)	57,564	(52,185)
Income taxes payable, net	20,700	(15,497)	(9,723)
Net cash provided by operating activities	656,578	640,473	263,191
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(3,485,286)	(2,464,108)	308,982
Acquisitions of intangible assets and other assets	(73,495)	(327,437)	(84,532)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(107,638)	(58,515)	(16,823)
Proceeds from sale of assets	91,996	36,000	15,046
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities	624,774	86,639	7,965
Purchases of marketable securities	(7,200)	(81,087)
Increase in restricted cash	(8,872)
Other			(1,699)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(2,965,721)	(2,808,508)	228,939
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Issuance of long-term debt, net of discount	6,005,758	5,388,799	992,400
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,929,118)	(2,004,641)	(537,500)
Short-term debt borrowings	35,365
Short-term debt repayments	(31,075)
Cash dividends paid			(356,291)
Repurchases of convertible debt	(3,975)	(613,471)	(254,316)
Repurchases of common shares	(280,724)	(639,242)	(60,130)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	23,026	41,738	58,425
Tax benefits from stock options exercised	12,541	26,533
Cash settlement of convertible debt	(606,278)
Cash settlement of call options		(66,863)	(37,682)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest		(52,499)
Payment of employee withholding tax upon vesting of share-based awards	(31,073)	(59,718)	(14,485)
Payments of contingent consideration	(103,926)	(31,800)
Payments of debt issuance costs	(33,153)	(40,671)	(4,565)
Other			861
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	3,057,368	1,948,165	(213,283)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,755	(10,288)	959
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	751,980	(230,158)	279,806
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	164,111	394,269	114,463
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	916,091	164,111	394,269
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
Acquisition of Valeant, equity issued			(3,880,301)
Acquisition of Valeant, debt assumed			(2,913,614)
Acquisition of businesses, contingent consideration at fair value	(145,728)	(443,481)
Settlement of convertible debt, equity issued		(892,000)
Acquisition of businesses, debt assumed	$ (825,241)