Figures obtained by the Medical Independent suggest that doctors are facing a one in 51 chance of having a complaint lodged against them with the Medical Council.
The latest data from the Council show that a total of 280 complaints have already been received to date this year, which represents a significant increase on last year.
This would equate to a projected figure of more than 372 complaints by the end of this year.
A spokesperson for the Council said that, in fact, there is normally a slight fall-off in complaints in the summer months, so the figure may indeed be higher than this estimate by year-end.
Based on the current number of medical professionals registered with the Medical Council, the figure equates to an average of one complaint for every 51 doctors.
In 2009, 295 complaints were received by the Council, an average of one per 61.5 registered medical practitioners.
Traditionally, the highest areas of complaint in order of volume have been in the categories of professional standards, treatment, failure to communicate or rudeness, and failure to supply medical records or reports.