Maintained that medical has been botched (7)
I believe the answer is:
claimed
'maintained' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'medical has been botched' is the wordplay.
'medical' can be anagrammed to 'CLAIMED'.
Though, I'm unsure how the anagram is indicated.
'that' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for claimed that I've seen before include "Asserted, contended" , "Asserted right to or interest in" , "Called for" , "Alleged" , "Declared" .)