A medical forceps has a shaft, a handle at the proximal end of the shaft, which handle has at least one movable grip part which is pivotable about a pivot axis, at least one movable tool at the distal end of the shaft, and a force transmission element, which runs in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shaft and is axially movable and with one end is in operative connection with the at least one movable tool and with the other end is in operative connection with the at least one movable grip part. The force transmission element is connected to a slide which is guided linearly with an exact fit in a sliding bearing and is axially movable in the direction of the force transmission element, the slide being connected to the movable grip part by means of an articulated lever, which is articulated with one end on the slide and with another end on the movable grip part.