A medical instrument for holding and handling a surgical securing element has a proximal and a distal end. The surgical securing element includes a securing part and a holding part, and is assembled such that in an assembled disposition, the holding part for a connection element is movable in relation to the securing part. The instrument defines a longitudinal axis and includes a pulling part and, movable in relation to the latter in the direction of the longitudinal axis, a pushing part. The proximal end is temporarily couplable to the securing element in the assembled disposition. The instrument further includes an uncoupling device for actively transferring the instrument from a coupled position, in which the pulling part and the holding part are coupled, to an uncoupled position, in which the pulling part and the holding part are separable from one another.