XML 74 R63.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.2

Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 Case | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Claim Case | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Legal Defense Costs |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Legal defense costs reserve | $ |  | $ 260 | $ 245
Fosamax |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) |  | 3,900 |
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Federal |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) |  | 11 |
Loss contingency, claims dismissed, number (in legal matters) | 650 | 1,060 |
Loss contingency, claims on appeal, number (in legal matters) | 515 |  |
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | New Jersey state court |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) |  | 2,555 |
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | California state court |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) |  | 275 |
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Other state courts |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) |  | 4 |
Januvia |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim |  | 1,350 |
Januvia | Other state courts |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim |  | 7 |
Januvia | Cases Company Agreed To Toll Statute Of Limitations |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss contingency, pending claims, number (in legal matters) | Claim |  | 50 |

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Claims on Appeal, Number + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mrk_LossContingencyClaimsonAppealNumber
Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of claims dismissed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyClaimsDismissedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis=mrk_LegalDefenseCostsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_FosamaxMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mrk_FemurFractureLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_FederalMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_NewJerseyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_CaliforniaStateCourtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=mrk_OtherStateCourtMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=mrk_JanuviaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=mrk_CasesCompanyAgreedToTollStatuteOfLimitationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |