sähkötuoli

Sähkötuoli, meaning "electric chair" in Finnish, refers to a device used for capital punishment. It consists of a chair equipped with electrodes designed to deliver a fatal electrical current to a condemned person. The process typically involves strapping the individual into the chair and applying electrodes to the head and a leg. A series of electrical shocks are then administered, intended to cause immediate unconsciousness and death.

The development of the electric chair as a method of execution began in the late 19th century in the United States. It was initially proposed as a more humane alternative to hanging. The first execution by electric chair took place in 1890 in Auburn, New York. While it was intended to be a swift and painless method, accounts and subsequent studies have raised questions about the actual experience of those subjected to it.

Over time, the use of the electric chair has declined significantly. Many jurisdictions that once employed it have moved to other methods, primarily lethal injection, due to concerns about its humaneness and the potential for botched executions. The electric chair remains a legally permissible method of execution in a few US states, though its actual use is rare. The ethical and practical implications of capital punishment, including the use of the electric chair, continue to be subjects of ongoing debate worldwide.