Segment Data - Financial Information for Company's Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,176	$ 1,173	$ 976
Acquisitions and other restructurings	480	740	354
Total Assets	51,765	53,904	37,734
Total Capital Expenditures	957	895	727
Total Depreciation and Amortization	2,253	1,978	1,088
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	4,976	4,137	2,927
Total Assets	49,217	50,938	22,388
Operating Segments | Medical
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	2,824	2,624	1,907
Total Assets	22,925	23,493	15,552
Total Capital Expenditures	577	560	486
Total Depreciation and Amortization	1,073	1,028	773
Operating Segments | Life Sciences
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	1,248	1,207	772
Total Assets	4,135	4,225	4,056
Total Capital Expenditures	230	255	212
Total Depreciation and Amortization	284	275	254
Operating Segments | Interventional
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	903	306	248
Total Assets	22,157	23,219	2,780
Total Capital Expenditures	120	65	16
Total Depreciation and Amortization	881	658	52
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisitions and other restructurings	480	740	354
Net interest expense	(627)	(641)	(445)
Corporate and All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(2,693)	(1,583)	(1,152)
Total Assets	2,548	2,966	15,347
Total Capital Expenditures	30	14	13
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$ 14	$ 17	$ 10