Holding arm (1) for medical purposes, in particular for holding a mechatronic assistance system (200), with a proximal end (2) for securing the holding arm (1) on a base (204), and with a distal end (4) for receiving the surgical mechatronic assistance system (200) an assistance interface (8) at the distal end (4), for coupling the holding arm (1) to the assistance system (200) in order to control the assistance system (200) an operating device (280) which is designed to detect an operator action of an operator directed to controlling the assistance system (200) and, if necessary, to cause a request signal representing the operator action to be transmitted to the assistance interface (8) for the purpose of controlling the surgical mechatronic assistance system (200).
