2.2.0.7 false Contingencies 0215 - Disclosure - Contingencies true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Contingencies [Abstract] 0 mdco_ContingenciesAbstract mdco false na duration Contingencies. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Contingencies. false 3 Contingencies 1 us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>15. Contingencies</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The Company may be, from time to time, a party to various disputes and claims arising from normal business activities. The Company accrues for loss contingencies when information available indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or liquidity. However, adjustments, if any, to the Company’s estimates could be material to operating results for the periods in which adjustments to the liability are recorded. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) rejected the Company’s application under the Hatch-Waxman Act for an extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404, the principal U.S. patent that covers Angiomax (the patent extension filing), because in the PTO’s view the application was not timely filed. The Company has entered into agreements with the law firms involved in the patent extension filing that suspend the statute of limitations on any claims against them for failing to make a timely filing. The Company has entered into a similar agreement with Biogen Idec, one of its licensors for Angiomax, relating to any claims, including claims for damages and/or license termination, that Biogen Idec may bring relating to the patent extension filing. Such claims by Biogen Idec could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or business. The Company is currently in discussions with the law firms involved in the patent extension filing and with Biogen Idec and Health Research Inc. with respect to the possible resolution of potential claims among the parties. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Includes disclosure of commitments and contingencies. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure including data and tables. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 14 -Paragraph 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true