O Preço da Perfeição

Inês Rodrigues era cirurgiã cardiotorácica no Hospital Universitário de Coimbra há doze anos. Era boa no que fazia — mais do que boa. Tinha o menor índice de complicações pós-cirúrgicas do departamento e um historial de casos complexos que a tinham tornado uma referência nacional. O que não conseguia equilibrar era o resto da sua vida fora do bloco operatório.

Inês Rodrigues had been a cardiothoracic surgeon at the University Hospital of Coimbra for twelve years. She was good at what she did — more than good. She had the lowest rate of post-surgical complications in the department and a track record of complex cases that had made her a national reference. What she could not balance was the rest of her life outside the operating theatre.

O marido, Paulo, arquiteto, tinha assumido a maior parte das responsabilidades domésticas e parentais quando percebeu que Inês não conseguia equilibrar as exigências do hospital com a presença em casa. Era um acordo tácito que funcionava na superfície. Mas equilibrar dois filhos, uma casa e uma carreira enquanto a parceira trabalhava doze horas por dia tinha um custo que nenhum dos dois verbalizava abertamente.

Her husband, Paulo, an architect, had taken on the majority of domestic and parental responsibilities when he realised Inês could not balance the hospital's demands with being present at home. It was a tacit arrangement that worked on the surface. But balancing two children, a house and a career while his partner worked twelve hours a day had a cost that neither of them openly put into words.