EDIT

//                description.setDescribedSpecimenOrObservation(null);

                for (DescriptionElementDto descElement: elements){

                    UUID descElementUuid = descElement.getElementUuid();

                    if (descElement instanceof CategoricalDataDto && ((CategoricalDataDto)descElement).getStates().isEmpty() || descElement instanceof QuantitativeDataDto && ((QuantitativeDataDto)descElement).getValues().isEmpty()){

                        continue;