Discontinued Operations and Held For Sale (American Medical Systems) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 11, 2015	Aug. 03, 2015	Feb. 24, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Upfront cash proceeds													$ 4,108	$ 1,588,779	$ 54,521
Asset impairment charges					$ 3,518,100	$ 93,500	$ 40,000	$ 129,600	$ 139,900	$ 923,600	$ 70,200	$ 7,000	3,781,165	1,140,709	22,542
Reclassification adjustments for loss realized in net income (loss)													0	(25,715)	0
Series B Non-Voting Preferred Stock
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Payment for redeemable preferred stock	$ 61,600
AMS
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration received		$ 1,650,000
Upfront cash proceeds		1,600,000
Potential milestone payment		$ 50,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of assets				$ 13,600
Tax (expense) benefit from provision for gain (loss) on disposal														161,800
Income tax benefit													0	157,418	440,107
Asset impairment charges													$ 21,328	230,703	$ 0
AMS | Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges												$ 222,800		$ 7,900
AMS | Series B Non-Voting Preferred Stock
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Expected proceeds from issuance of preferred stock			$ 60,000
Expected shares to be issued			60,000