What distinguishes passive euthanasia from active euthanasia?

Passive euthanasia is distinguished from active euthanasia based on the actions taken regarding the patient's life. In passive euthanasia, medical interventions are withheld or withdrawn, allowing the individual to die naturally without additional life-prolonging measures. This can include situations where life support is removed or treatment is stopped, thereby not actively causing death but rather refraining from prolonging the dying process.

In contrast, active euthanasia involves direct actions taken to end a person's life, such as administering a lethal dose of medication. This form of euthanasia actively results in death, contrasting with passive euthanasia, which merely allows the natural progression of a terminal condition.

The other options explore various moral, legal, and consent-related aspects of euthanasia but do not accurately capture the fundamental procedural distinction between the two types. Hence, understanding that passive euthanasia focuses on not prolonging life while active euthanasia directly terminates life is essential in differentiating between the two concepts.