Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net product revenues	$ 18,843	$ 32,703	$ 80,542	$ 217,337
Royalty revenues	18,756	24,503	62,094	24,503
Total net revenues	37,599	57,206	142,636	241,840
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	20,777	49,188	54,804	94,482
Research and development	23,537	27,102	94,595	83,420
Selling, general and administrative	69,022	86,892	242,478	260,986
Total operating expenses	113,336	163,182	391,877	438,888
Loss from operations	(75,737)	(105,976)	(249,241)	(197,048)
Co-promotion and license income	757	985	3,073	10,011
Gain on remeasurement of equity investment	0	0	0	22,597
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	0	19,773
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	288,301	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(5,380)	0
Legal settlement	0	5,000	0	5,000
Interest expense	(12,089)	(9,547)	(32,198)	(27,510)
Other income (loss)	865	(89)	741	609
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(86,204)	(109,627)	5,296	(166,568)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(163)	19,001	(220)	12,895
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(86,367)	(90,626)	5,076	(153,673)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	96	(14,515)	(1,390)	6,999
Net (loss) income	(86,271)	(105,141)	3,686	(146,674)
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest	13	9	50	(16)
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	(86,258)	(105,132)	3,736	(146,690)
Amounts attributable to The Medicines Company:
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(86,354)	(90,617)	5,126	(153,689)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	96	(14,515)	(1,390)	6,999
Net (loss) income attributable to The Medicines Company	$ (86,258)	$ (105,132)	$ 3,736	$ (146,690)
Basic (loss) earnings per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ (1.23)	$ (1.35)	$ 0.07	$ (2.33)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	(0.22)	(0.02)	0.11
Basic (loss) earnings per share (USD per share)	(1.23)	(1.57)	0.05	(2.22)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to The Medicines Company:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (USD per share)	(1.23)	(1.35)	0.07	(2.33)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	(0.22)	(0.02)	0.11
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (USD per share)	$ (1.23)	$ (1.57)	$ 0.05	$ (2.22)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	70,194	67,137	69,711	66,079
Diluted (shares)	70,194	67,137	72,920	66,079