Final answer:
The major difference between active and passive euthanasia is that active euthanasia involves direct action by healthcare workers to end a patient's life, while passive euthanasia involves withholding treatment, allowing the illness to take its course.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major difference between active versus passive euthanasia lies in the method by which a patient's life is ended. Active euthanasia involves the medical professional directly taking steps to terminate a patient's life, such as administering a lethal dose of medication. In contrast, passive euthanasia occurs when medical treatment is withheld or withdrawn, leading to the patient's death as a result of their existing medical condition, without the direct intervention of healthcare personnel. American ethicist James Rachels argued that active euthanasia could be more humane than passive euthanasia, as it may result in a quicker and less painful death, although legal and ethical debates continue within the medical community regarding these practices.