Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 31,508	$ 468	$ 61,474	$ 13,975
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(443)	(5,272)	(989)	(8,341)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	31,065	(4,804)	60,485	5,634
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,021	(4,847)	60,355	5,503
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	31,508	468	61,474	13,975
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(443)	(5,272)	(989)	(8,341)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	31,065	(4,804)	60,485	5,634
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,021	(4,847)	60,355	5,503
Subsidiary Issuers
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	31,508	486	61,474	14,037
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(443)	(5,272)	(989)	(8,341)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	31,065	(4,786)	60,485	5,696
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	31,021	(4,829)	60,355	5,565
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	40,528	25,462	106,948	75,117
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total comprehensive income (loss)	40,528	25,462	106,948	75,117
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	40,528	25,462	106,948	75,117
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	8,921	3,849	12,159	5,236
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Total comprehensive income (loss)	8,921	3,849	12,159	5,236
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	8,921	3,849	12,159	5,236
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(80,957)	(29,797)	(180,581)	(94,390)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	443	5,272	989	8,341
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(80,514)	(24,525)	(179,592)	(86,049)
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	44	43	130	131
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	(80,470)	(24,482)	(179,462)	(85,918)
Total Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	31,508	468	61,474	13,975
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on interest rate swap	(443)	(5,272)	(989)	(8,341)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	31,065	(4,804)	60,485	5,634
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(44)	(43)	(130)	(131)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MPT common stockholders	$ 31,021	$ (4,847)	$ 60,355	$ 5,503