BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended								9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	14 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Office building	Sep. 30, 2014 Developed Markets	Dec. 31, 2013 Developed Markets	Sep. 30, 2014 Emerging Markets	Dec. 31, 2013 Emerging Markets	Sep. 30, 2014 Business Combinations in 2014	Jul. 07, 2014 PreCision Dermatology, Inc.	Dec. 31, 2014 PreCision Dermatology, Inc. Scenario, Forecast	Sep. 30, 2014 PreCision Dermatology, Inc. Developed Markets	Sep. 30, 2014 PreCision Dermatology, Inc. Other (Income) Expense	Jan. 23, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc.	Jan. 23, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Developed Markets	Sep. 30, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Emerging Markets	Jan. 23, 2014 Solta Medical, Inc. Other (Income) Expense	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L	Sep. 30, 2013 B&L 9.875% Senior Notes	Aug. 05, 2013 B&L 9.875% Senior Notes	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L Various Vision Care Products	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L Various Pharmaceutical Products	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L Various Surgical Products	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L IPR&D	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L Developed Markets	Sep. 30, 2014 B&L Emerging Markets	Sep. 30, 2013 B&L Restructuring, Integration and Other Costs	Apr. 25, 2013 Obagi Medical Products, Inc	Apr. 25, 2013 Obagi Medical Products, Inc	Apr. 30, 2014 Eisai	Feb. 20, 2013 Eisai	Feb. 01, 2013 Natur Produkt	Mar. 31, 2013 Natur Produkt	Feb. 01, 2013 Natur Produkt	Sep. 30, 2014 Other Business Combinations	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Business Combinations
Business Combinations
Aggregate purchase price												$ 1,046.6	$ 454.5					$ 292.5
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	116.5			116.5		114.5						65.1		25.0																							50.8					59.1
Separately recognized post-combination expense																20.4
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												57.3											540.7																		64.5
Gross contractual amount of trade accounts receivable acquired												61.7											555.6																		68.2
Expected uncollectible of trade accounts receivable acquired												4.4											14.9																		3.7
Goodwill	9,467.8			9,467.8		9,752.1		7,157.8	7,428.7	2,310.0	2,323.4	321.1			181.3				64.4	42.9			4,358.0								3,300.0	1,100.0									233.3
Acquisition-related costs	1.6		8.6	3.7	24.4							4.2											13.4
Revenues of acquiree since acquisition date												133.0
Net earnings (loss), net of tax of acquiree since acquisition date												(44.4)
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												66.6											415.1				223.4	170.9	20.8												18.9
Risk-adjusted discount rate (as a percent)																														10.00%
Interest rate on debt (as a percent)																										9.875%
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	0	(93.7)	(8.2)	(93.7)	(29.6)																				(8.2)
Deferred tax assets																							61.6
Deferred tax liability, noncurrent																							1,436.5																		148.9
Fair value of pension and other benefits liabilities																							224.2
Aggregate purchase price (less non-controlling interest)																							4,613.3																		898.1	898.1
Contingent consideration payment																																				30.0
Total fair value of consideration transferred																						4,613.3												437.1				149.9
Upfront payment																																					66.5
Potential future milestone payments																																					60.0
Contingent refund of purchase price																																								20.0
Refund of contingent purchase price																																							$ 20.0