Martin Shkreli, CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, was called before a Congressional Committee February 4th, 2016. Back in September 2014, Turing Pharmaceuticals bought the rights to Daraprim, a drug used to treat toxoplasmosis:
"Toxoplasmosis is a disease that is caused by the T. gondii parasite. It can be a major concern for patients with severely weakened immune systems, such as those patients living with HIV/AIDS. Other patients at risk may include pregnant women, as the T. gondii parasite has been known to pass onto their unborn child" [1].
After purchasing the rights to Daraprim, Martin Shkreli has raised the prices roughly 5000 percent, and in the past few months, many have labeled Martin Shkreli as the most hated man in America [2]. When questioned about this price increase, Shkreli claims that his primary duty is to "make more profits for his shareholders," though he claims to be spending a large amount of incoming capital on Research and Development to "make sure no patient is left behind" [3].
In Martin Shkreli's defense, he remarks that Daraprim is a drug of the 1940s, and that the funding for Research and Development is "to make a better version of Daraprim that is more effective, less toxic" [4]. Shkreli invoked his 5th Amendment rights to every question addressed by the Committee, except for a question clarifying the pronunciation of his name. I could comment on demeanor during the hearing, question his moral compass, or respond to his Tweets despising the Congressional system, however I want to call my hearers to maintain a loving and prayerful disposition towards Martin Shkreli.
For a large majority of my readers, which are college students, we do not have the authority or knowledge to address the situation in question. Yet we are not useless in fighting for justice in this situation. I want to bring a one passage into the spotlight so as to offer ways in which we can respond to the nation-wide outbursts.
1 Corinthians 13:4c-6 speaks of about love and describes it as follows: "...it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." There are two insights from these verses that demand a counter-cultural response to the issue of the raised drug prices. The Greek word for rude in this verses is aschēmoneō (transliteration), meaning to act unbecomingly. To understand the meaning of this word, it is helpful to take a look at 1 Corinthians 12:22-23. In this passage, Paul reveals that man treats the different parts of the body with different hierarchy (a metaphor representing that man places members of the body of Christ, i.e. people, in levels of hierarchy). Paul explains that rather, the aschēmōn—indecent or unbecoming parts of our body—should be viewed with greater beauty and charm.
In contrast with man's hierarchy of value of people, God composed the body so that, "there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). With this knowledge of aschēmoneō, we can better understand the command that love is not rude in 1 Corinthians 1:5. Paul mentions love as not unbecoming or rude, so the body of Christ is a vessel that presents no division or hierarchy to the surrounding world. Paul is calling the Corinthian church to honor others, regardless of what value or reputation man has placed on them. In the case of Martin Shkreli, as college students, we can respond to the indecent remarks of others addressed to him, and others that receive disgrace, with words that dignify them. In disgracing others, we consequently lift ourselves higher in relation to them, acting contrary to the word of Christ.
The second insight to gain from this passage is the command not to be paroxynō (transliteration), easily provoked. This verb is in the present passive indicative form, meaning that it is a command, and that it is an action in which the subject is the recipient or benefactor of the action expressed by the verb. Paroxynō connotes the idea of sharpening, or stimulation, particularly of the temper in this context. Paul is commanding the Corinthian church to be people governed by, or under the influence of love. Therefore, they are a people who do not receive provocation, they are not stimulated by anger, they are not given to irritation.
In the situation with Martin Shkreli, there is a nationwide response that indicates people are governed by what provokes them. Paul is commanding that the Corinthian church be people who are fueled by their love, and that when they hear news, such as the injustice many feel about the price increase of Daraprim, the love of Christ stimulates their response. This is a characteristic of an individual whose flesh has died to all ways of the world, an individual who has forfeited all to Christ. As college students may we pray for our soul, that Christ would continually form us to be people who allow love to be what stimulates and sharpens us to action.
1. "Let Us Help You." Daraprim® (pyrimethamine) 25mg Tablets by Turing Pharmaceuticals AG. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.
2. "Martin Shkreli: If Morality Is Relative, Why Are We Outraged?" Intellectual Takeout. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.
3. Diamond, Dan. "Martin Shkreli Admits He Messed Up: He Should've Raised Prices Even Higher." Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.
4. MailOnline, Darren Boyle for. "Drugs Boss Who Hiked the Price of Life-saving HIV Treatment by 5,000 per Cent Tried to Do the Same with Kidney Pills as He Vows to Reduce the Price... but Refuses to Say by How Much." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 2015. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.
