The invention relates to a medical instrument for severing connecting rods, in particular, of implanted spinal column stabilization systems, which comprises a first cutting element and a second cutting element which are pivotal relative to each other about a pivotal axis, a first handle element and a second handle element which are moveable relative to each other, and a force transmission device which is coupled to the first and the second handle element on the one hand and to the first and the second cutting element on the other for the purposes of transferring an actuating force from the first and second handle element to the first and second cutting element.
