Exhibit 23


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos.
33-22871, 33-23055, 33-33791, 33-40787, 33-53375, 33-58367, 33-64115, 333-11885,
333-16091 and 333-46089 on Form S-8, Registration Statement Nos. 333-23559
and 333-38193 on Form S-3 and the related Prospectuses, and this Annual Report
(Form 10-K) of our report dated November 7, 2000 with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Becton, Dickinson and Company, included in
the 2000 Annual Report to Shareholders of Becton, Dickinson and Company.

     Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Becton,
Dickinson and Company listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility
of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based
on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to
above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a
whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth
therein.


                                             /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                             ------------------------------
                                                 Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York
December 20, 2000