Basis Of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of C. R. Bard, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "company" or "Bard") should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Bard's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. These financial statements have been prepared on a basis that is substantially consistent with the accounting principles applied in Bard's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The preparation of these financial statements requires the company to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. These financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation. The accounts of most foreign subsidiaries are consolidated as of and for the quarters ended August 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010 and as of November 30, 2010. No events occurred related to these foreign subsidiaries during the months of September 2011 (other than the impact of the impairment of the Greek bonds), September 2010 or December 2010 that materially affected the financial position or results of operations of the company. The results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a new statement that eliminates the current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the consolidated statements of shareholders' investment. Under this statement, the company can elect to present items of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive statements. This statement will be effective as of the beginning of Bard's 2012 fiscal year and will be retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented.