BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	8 Months Ended								3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Office building	Mar. 31, 2014 Developed Markets	Dec. 31, 2013 Developed Markets	Mar. 31, 2014 Emerging Markets	Dec. 31, 2013 Emerging Markets	Mar. 31, 2014 Business Combinations in 2014	Jan. 23, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc.	Mar. 31, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Developed Markets	Mar. 31, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Emerging Markets	Jan. 23, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Other (Income) Expense	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L 9.875% Senior Notes	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L Various Vision Care Products	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L Various Pharmaceutical Products	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L Various Surgical Products	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L IPR&D	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L Developed Markets	Mar. 31, 2014 B&L Emerging Markets	Sep. 30, 2013 B&L Restructuring, Integration and Other Costs	Apr. 25, 2013 Obagi Medical Products, Inc	Feb. 20, 2013 Eisai	Apr. 30, 2014 Eisai Subsequent Event	Feb. 01, 2013 Natur Produkt	Mar. 31, 2013 Natur Produkt	Mar. 31, 2014 Other Business Combinations	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Business Combinations
Business Combinations
Aggregate purchase price									$ 323.1	$ 292.5
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	119.5		114.5						21.7																50.8					59.1
Per share consideration (in dollars per share)										$ 2.92														$ 24.00
Repayments of long-term debt										44.2
Charge relating to settlement of preexisting relationship													5.6
Fair value of accounts receivable									14.7						540.7														64.5
Gross contractual amount of trade accounts receivable acquired									17.0						555.6														68.2
Expected uncollectible of trade accounts receivable acquired									2.3						14.9														3.7
Goodwill	9,915.9		9,752.1		7,539.4	7,428.7	2,376.5	2,323.4	103.0		60.8	40.7			4,407.0						3,300.0	1,100.0							233.3
Acquisition-related costs	1.5	7.9							0.9						13.5
Revenues of acquiree since acquisition date									23.0
Net earnings (loss), net of tax of acquiree since acquisition date									(18.4)
Par value per share of common stock (in dollars per share)														$ 0.01
Enterprise value														8,700.0
Cash consideration paid for unvested options																							4.3
Estimated fair value adjustment to inventory															269.1
Carrying amount of long-lived asset held for sale				14.2
Acquired IPR&D									15.0						418.1		226.4	170.9	20.8										18.9
Risk-adjusted discount rate (as a percent)																				10.00%
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)																9.875%
Deferred tax assets															78.7
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent															1,489.7														148.9
Fair value of pension and other benefits liabilities															224.2
Aggregate purchase price (less non-controlling interest)															4,613.3														898.1
Aggregate purchase price														4,613.3										437.1			149.9
Upfront payment																									66.5
Potential future milestone payments																									60.0	30.0
Contingent refund of purchase price																											20.0
Refund of contingent purchase price																												$ 20.0