Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 19,360	$ 2,683	$ 29,967	$ 13,507
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(1,045)	(3,586)	(546)	(3,069)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,315	(903)	29,421	10,438
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	18,271	(946)	29,334	10,350
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,683	29,967	13,507
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(1,045)	(3,586)	(546)	(3,069)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,315	(903)	29,421	10,438
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	18,271	(946)	29,334	10,350
Subsidiary Issuers
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,710	29,967	13,551
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(1,045)	(3,586)	(546)	(3,069)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,315	(876)	29,421	10,482
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	18,271	(919)	29,334	10,394
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	36,162	24,893	67,121	50,404
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total comprehensive income (loss)	36,162	24,893	67,121	50,404
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	36,162	24,893	67,121	50,404
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	1,392	(29)	2,537	638
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total comprehensive income (loss)	1,392	(29)	2,537	638
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	1,392	(29)	2,537	638
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(56,914)	(27,574)	(99,625)	(64,593)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	1,045	3,586	546	3,069
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(55,869)	(23,988)	(99,079)	(61,524)
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	44	43	87	88
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	(55,825)	(23,945)	(98,992)	(61,436)
Total Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	19,360	2,683	29,967	13,507
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(1,045)	(3,586)	(546)	(3,069)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	18,315	(903)	29,421	10,438
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(87)	(88)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 18,271	$ (946)	$ 29,334	$ 10,350