Pierre Barbet (1884–1961) was a French surgeon and anatomist renowned for his extensive anatomical and physiological research concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, particularly in the context of the Shroud of Turin.
Barbet's primary contribution was his detailed medical analysis of the crucifixion, which he compiled in his influential 1950 book, A Doctor at Calvary (originally published in French as La Passion de N.S. Jésus-Christ selon le chirurgien). In this work, he meticulously examined the wounds described in the Gospels and those visible on the Shroud of Turin, offering a medical interpretation of the events of the Passion.
His methodology involved conducting anatomical experiments, including studies on cadavers and volunteers, to understand the physiological effects of crucifixion. He investigated aspects such as the precise placement of nails in the wrists (rather than the palms), the mechanism of death by asphyxiation, and the nature of the spear wound in Christ's side, suggesting that the flow of "blood and water" described in John's Gospel could be medically explained by a piercing of the pericardium.
Barbet's research profoundly impacted subsequent studies of the Shroud of Turin and provided a foundational medical-scientific framework for understanding the physical suffering of Christ. His work remains a key reference in Shroudology and medical historical discussions of crucifixion.