Interesting. I’m not sure that suicide is worse then murder; a convicted murderer is also not buried among other jews (“Kvorim Ben Reshoim Gemurim”). However, today we don’t have a Beis Din and the like, while suicide is unfortunately still relevant.
The Medrash Rabbah has a special drasha to forbid suicide; that would imply that it is in a category unto itself. We find that suicide is permissible in times to avoid something which is Yehareg V’Al Yaavor (hence a woman committing suicide to avoid being defiled) and the mass suicides during the crusades to avoid forced conversion. Again, if the Mitzvah is important enough to allow yourself to be killed, one may kill oneself to avoid it.
I presume that that means that suicide is not in the catergory sfichas daamim, because if it were, well, isn’t that yeherag v’al yaavor as well? But I vaguely recall priorities in Yeharag V’Al Yaavor…anyone else?
Anyway, what are the sources for suicide being worse then murder? Again, it seems clear that one must kill oneself before killing someone else (conversely, one must save oneself before saving another).
I have wondered why the Poskim have a universal ban on Euthanasia; if suicide is permissible in the face of torture and certain death (an opinion held by many Poskim) – isn’t that an apt description of Terminal brain cancer or the like? True, cures are often possible, but after all hope is exhausted – ? Morphine, anyone?