The Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Death Row

Despite high rates of mental illness among incarcerated people in the United States, use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains limited in jails and prisons. There are some published guidelines regarding the provision of mental health care, including ECT, in U.S. correctional facilities, but little attention has been paid to the use of ECT for individuals sentenced to death. This article examines ECT within the context of the death penalty, including court consideration of ECT in capital cases and historic uses of ECT to facilitate execution of people on death row. Given the unique clinical, legal, and ethics considerations in the use of ECT for people sentenced to death, the authors call for greater attention to these practices and propose general guidelines regarding the use of ECT in this population.