Segment Reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) reportablesegments	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments | reportablesegments			3
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 2,003	$ 2,631	$ 4,546	$ 5,124
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Amortization expense	(197)	(161)	(398)	(321)
Operating income (loss)	(71)	384	75	925
Other expense, net	(110)	(239)	(234)	(323)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(181)	145	(159)	602
MedSurg [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	576	818	1,350	1,584
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 173	$ 295	$ 432	$ 551
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	30.10%	36.10%	32.00%	34.80%
Rhythm and Neuro [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 525	$ 786	$ 1,228	$ 1,543
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 32	$ 167	$ 131	$ 322
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	6.10%	21.20%	10.70%	20.90%
Cardiovascular [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 834	$ 1,026	$ 1,860	$ 1,998
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating Income Allocated to Reportable Segments	$ 186	$ 301	$ 385	$ 577
Segment Operating Income as a Percentage of Net Sales	22.30%	29.30%	20.70%	28.90%
BSX Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 1,935		$ 4,437
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	68
Corporate expenses and currency exchange [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(189)	$ (91)	(222)	$ (140)
Special Charges [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	(125)	(127)	(327)	(64)
Total allocated to reportable segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	391	$ 763	947	$ 1,449
Specialty Pharmaceuticals [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	68		109
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Operating income (loss)	$ 49		$ 75