One among the doctor's malingerers (6)
I believe the answer is:
drones
'malingerers' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'one among the doctor's' is the wordplay.
'among' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are placed among others).
'the doctor's' becomes 'Dr's' (abbreviation).
'one' placed inside 'drs' is 'DRONES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drones that I've seen before include "Honeybees that mate with the queen" , "Aircraft operated by remote control" , "Stingless male bees" , "Male honey-bee or idle people" , "Male bees or idlers" .)