Contact:
Dean J. Paranicas/Investor Relations -- 201-847-7102
Charles A. Borgognoni/Corporate Communications -- 201-847-6651


                BERTRAM L. SCOTT ELECTED TO BD BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Franklin Lakes, NJ (September 24, 2002) - BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
(NYSE:BDX) has elected Bertram L. Scott to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Scott, 51, is the President of TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company and
Executive Vice President of TIAA-CREF. Prior to joining TIAA-CREF in November
2000, Mr. Scott served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Horizon/Mercy, a joint Medicaid managed care program between Mercy Health Plan
of Pennsylvania and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey.

"BD is fortunate to have someone of Mr. Scott's stature join our Board," said
Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Bert's
attributes as a leader, experience in corporate governance and business
expertise in the insurance and healthcare fields will all be of significant
value to BD."

Mr. Scott is a graduate of DePaul University, which honored him earlier this
year with its School for New Learning David O. Justice Award. Among his civic
and professional affiliations, Mr. Scott serves on the boards of the American
Heart Association, the Committee for Economic Development, the Health Insurance
Association of America and is a member of the American Council of Life Insurers
Executive Roundtable. In 2000, Mr. Scott served as the chairman of the United
Way of Essex and West Hudson, New Jersey. That same year the New Jersey Chapter
of the NAACP honored him as the CEO of the Year.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life
science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD
manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory
equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001,
BD reported total revenues of $3.8 billion.


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This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined
under Federal securities laws) regarding the Company's performance, including
future revenues, products and income, or events or developments that the Company
expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are
based upon current expectations of the Company and involve a number of business
risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated
results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement.
Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from any
forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: competitive factors;
pricing and market share pressures; uncertainties of litigation; the Company's
ability to achieve sales and earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume
and product mix assumptions, to achieve its cost savings objectives, and to
achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with
acquisitions; changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions;
increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw
materials and in the Company's ability to maintain favorable supplier
arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange
rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or other
governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press
release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements.