Unaudited Interim Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Litigation charges, net		$ 109,800,000		$ 292,400,000	$ 25,800,000
Asset impairments			3,400,000	3,200,000	5,700,000		13,200,000	9,000,000	12,300,000	22,200,000	0
Increase (decrease) in net income attributable to common share holders		552,800,000	(29,100,000)	(277,100,000)	(29,300,000)	(15,700,000)	(12,100,000)	(5,800,000)
Decreased diluted earnings per share available to common shareholders		$ 6.86	$ 0.36	$ 3.35	$ 0.35	$ 0.19	$ 0.14	$ 0.07
Reversal of restructuring costs				1,400,000				1,600,000
Acquisition-related items		14,000,000	33,700,000			3,100,000	4,500,000
Acquisition related item, purchased IPR&D charge			29,500,000			1,900,000	2,400,000		30,000,000	3,500,000	3,500,000
Divestiture-related charges		7,800,000	9,700,000						17,500,000	0	0
Increase (decrease) in income tax provision			(2,200,000)					1,100,000
Acquisition costs, integration costs		11,200,000							11,300,000	2,100,000	4,400,000
Other income (expense), net, Gore Proceeds	894,300,000	894,300,000							894,300,000	0	0
Gain on the sale of BEP		213,000,000							213,000,000	0	0
Contribution to the C. R. Bard Foundation, Inc.		22,500,000							25,000,000	2,500,000	2,200,000
Restructuring charges						$ 19,000,000			$ (2,100,000)	$ 17,400,000	$ 7,800,000