Abstract: The invention encompasses a method of inducing a high permeability state in a cell membrane and a method for ablating a target tissue wherein the method comprises applying an electroporation pulse to a cell, wherein at a time after the electroporation pulse is applied, a plurality of long lived pores (LLPs) are formed in the cell membrane and the presence of the LLPs causes a change in the cell osmotic pressure difference. The invention also encompasses a method for ablating a target tissue using an electrical pulse regime that induces cell permeabilization and cell death, wherein the primary mechanism of cell death is as a result of electroporation.