Abstract: A surgical device (101) for grasping and severing body tissue comprises a housing (140) which defines a proximal end (102) and a distal end (104), a user operating handle (160) at the proximal end (102), and two blade elements (110, 120) at the distal end (104). The user operating handle (160) may be activated to pivot the blade elements (110, 120) about two parallel grasping pivot axes to grasp a piece of body tissue which is located between the blade elements (110, 120). The user operating handle (160) may also be activated to pivot the blade elements (110, 120) about a severing pivot axis to sever a piece of body tissue which is located between the blade elements (110, 120).