Distressing assessment led by doctor (10)
I believe the answer is:
lacerating
'distressing' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are present participle verbs, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'assessment led by doctor' is the wordplay.
'assessment' becomes 'rating' (rating is a kind of assessment).
'led by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'doctor' becomes 'lace' (I've seen this in other clues).
'rating' after 'lace' is 'LACERATING'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for lacerating that I've seen is " Ripping".)