Current is the Health after the end. (Variable doesn't change during calculations)
Starting with wounded unit is helpful if you price Medal of the defender over Medal for resilience, It would be harder to hit damage taken>max health

Hypothetically, if we take 2 units, both have max life 20, one wounded to 17 at the start and both take 15 damage, for second unit chance to get medal is ~3% higher

I have started to suspect recently that Poison Damage does not count for any of the medals. Only helping Healers gain their medals from healing them back up.

Also for some reason when I use Word of LIfe on my guys they don't seem to qualify for Heroes Cross at all. Cannot verify if I have NEVER had it happen but have noticed a recent trend when I have had Guard/Minotaur/Elephant take out the entire opposition and not get it even when they have taken OVER their max life in damage.

Another thing to note is that I may not be getting credit for kills beyond the first guy when using Round Attacks. This be contributing to my not getting Heroes Medals on my Minotaurs ;(