Damaged condition of patients before and after a doctor has seen them? (3-7)

I believe the answer is:

ill-treated

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'a doctor has seen them?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'damaged condition of patients before and after' is the wordplay.
'damaged' becomes 'ate' (eating is a kind of damaging).
'condition' becomes 'ill' (ill is a kind of condition).
'of patients' becomes 'tred' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'before and after' is an insertion indicator.
'ill'+'tred'='illtred'
'ate' put into 'illtred' is 'ILL-TREATED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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