Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 13,607		$ 13,607		$ 13,345
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(8,150)		(8,150)		(7,806)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	330		330		377
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	45	$ 34	45	$ 233
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			9,951
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments			(2)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			926
Goodwill Ending Balance	10,874		10,874		9,951
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	(12)	(6)	121	86
Cost of products sold	945	791	1,839	1,596
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	6	20	10	37
Interest Expense	86	91	168	179
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net	26	18	(11)	54
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	(15)	(8)	156	111
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, Tax	3	2	(35)	(25)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	(12)	(6)	121	86
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, before Tax	(10)	(28)	(16)	(51)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, Tax	2	6	4	11
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	(7)	(21)	(12)	(39)
Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	(8)	(5)	43	17
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, Tax	2	1	(10)	(25)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, after Tax	(7)	(4)	33	(8)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, before Tax	(3)	(6)	(9)	(12)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, Tax	1	1	2	3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, after Tax	(3)	(5)	(7)	(9)
foreign currency denominated in debt [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	(12)	(22)	35	2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, Tax	3	5	(8)	3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), before Adjustments, after Tax	(10)	(17)	27	5
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, before Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivative, Excluded Component, Increase (Decrease), Adjustments, after Tax	0	0	0	0
Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification, after Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, before Tax	1	1	3	3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, Tax	0	0	(1)	(1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cash Flow Hedge, Gain (Loss), Reclassification, after Tax	1	$ 1	2	$ 2
MedSurg [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			2,059
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments			(2)
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			0
Goodwill Ending Balance	2,057		2,057		2,059
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			2,194
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments			0
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			926
Goodwill Ending Balance	3,120		3,120		2,194
Cardiovascular [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			5,697
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments			1
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			0
Goodwill Ending Balance	5,698		5,698		5,697
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss					73
Goodwill [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross	20,774		20,774		19,924
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	(9,900)		(9,900)		(9,973)
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	210		210		257
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	120		120		120
Technology-Based Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,284		11,284		11,059
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(6,475)		(6,475)		(6,179)
Patents [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	497		497		511
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(397)		(397)		(407)
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	1,826		1,826		1,775
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ (1,278)		$ (1,278)		$ (1,220)