Pubdate: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company Contact: 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 Fax: (212) 556-3622 Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://forums.nytimes.com/comment/ Author: Dr. Jerry Frankel ABUSERS GO UNPUNISHED To the Editor: The article "Surgery Heals Scars Both Physical and Emotional" (Feb. 6) provoked strong conflicting emotions. Bless the physicians, nurses and institutions that take care of these innocent victims of terrible abuse. But how can such abuse go on, undetected, unpunished? Nonviolent drug abusers are incarcerated and violent family members go unpunished. Violent people need punishment; victims are entitled to protection. This injustice is not eradicated by skillful surgery on broken bodies. DR. JERRY FRANKEL McKinney, Tex. - --- MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer