The invention relates to a medical instrument (1) with a first hand lever (2) which has a manually actuated grip portion (3) at its proximal end, a work portion (4) for gripping, clamping or cutting an object at its distal end, and, lying between these, a bearing portion (5) on which a bearing element (6) engages in order to permit pivotability about a rotation axis (7) between the first hand lever (2) and a second hand lever (8), wherein the second hand lever (8) has a grip portion (9) at its proximal end, a work portion (10) at its distal end, and, lying between these, a guide portion (11) on which the bearing element (6) engages, wherein the guide portion (11) of the second hand lever (8) has on one side a recess (12) for receiving the bearing portion (5) of the first hand lever (2) such that two guide protrusions (13, 14) located distally and proximally of the recess (12) at least partially cover the bearing portion (5) in an operating position in which gripping, clamping or cutting takes place, wherein the bearing portion (5) of the first hand lever (2) is pressed, by means of a spacing element (23) that provides distance through force or resistance, away from the guide portion (11) of the second hand lever (8) in the operating position, such that a cleaning gap (27) between the first hand lever (2) and the second hand lever (8) extends along the entire length of the guide portion (11).
