Leases (Lessee) - Summary of Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 8,234	$ 9,866
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:OtherAssets
Total real estate right of use assets	$ 75,209	61,380
Total right of use assets	83,443	71,246
Lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$ 90,006	76,353
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Financing leases	$ 1,935	1,932
Finance Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	mpw:ObligationsToTenantsAndOtherLeaseLiabilities
Total lease liabilities	$ 91,941	$ 78,285
Weighted-average remaining lease term:
Operating leases	41 years 1 month 6 days	31 years 10 months 24 days
Finance leases	35 years 10 months 24 days	36 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted-average discount rate:
Operating leases	6.40%	6.30%
Finance leases	6.60%	6.60%
Real Estate [Member]
Right of use assets:
Operating leases	$ 73,373	$ 59,492
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:Land
Finance leases	$ 1,836	$ 1,888
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:Land