Doctor apologizes after saying wage gap exists because 'women don't work as hard'

Gary Tigges, a physician at Plano Internal Medicine Associates wrote in the Dallas Medical Journal that women should be paid less than men because they don't work as hard.

"Yes, there is a pay gap," Tigges wrote. "Female physicians do not work as hard and do not see as many patients as male physicians."

He continued, "This is because they choose to, or they simply don't want to be rushed, or they don't want to work the long hours. Most of the time, their priority is something else... Family, social, whatever."

After these comments surfaced, Tigges received mass backlash on the internet. People also criticized the Dallas Medical Journal for publishing his remarks.

Tigges has since apologized for his comments.

“I have heard from several trusted female physician colleagues who disagree with and are deeply hurt and offended by the comments I made to the Dallas Medical Journal regarding pay equity among female and male physicians,” Tigges wrote. “I want to thank them for reaching out to me and sharing their concerns. I now understand more clearly how intricate this issue is and that there are ways we can work together to resolve these disparities.”

He added that his comments were taken out of context, "My response sounds terrible and horrible and doesn’t reflect what I was really trying to say. I’m not saying female physicians should be paid less, but they earn less because of other factors.”