Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) reportablesegments	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments			3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,659	$ 2,707	$ 7,204	$ 7,831
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	(197)	(178)	(595)	(498)
Operating income (loss)	(205)	383	(130)	1,308
Other expense, net	(22)	(292)	(256)	(615)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(227)	91	(386)	693
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	825	845	2,175	2,429
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 307	$ 319	$ 738	$ 870
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	37.20%	37.80%	33.90%	35.80%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 757	$ 780	$ 1,985	$ 2,323
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 165	$ 166	$ 296	$ 488
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	21.90%	21.30%	14.90%	21.00%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 1,002	$ 1,058	$ 2,862	$ 3,057
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 208	$ 283	$ 593	$ 860
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	20.80%	26.70%	20.70%	28.10%
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,584	$ 2,684	$ 7,021	$ 7,807
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	680	768	1,628	2,218
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	74	23	183	23
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	49	13	124	13
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(108)	(75)	(330)	(215)
Intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related net (charges) credits, restructuring- and restructuring-related net (charges) credits, EU MDR implementation costs and litigation-related net (charges) credits
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	$ (629)	$ (146)	$ (957)	$ (210)