A surgical needle (10) for use in suturing non-cutaneous soft tissues of the body. The surgical needle includes a needle shaft (11) and a needle tip (12) formed of a rigid material suitable for use inside the body. The needle tip has a body portion (14) integrally formed with and extending from the needle shaft and is tapered along its length. The needle tip is further provided with a blunt head (16) which together with the body portion defines a continuously smooth outer surface lacking any sharp cutting edges. The blunt head is adapted to penetrate muscle and fascia, muscle alone, adipose, pericostal tissue and other non-cutaneous soft tissues of the body while at the same time preventing skin penetration of the gloved hand of an operator.
