Tort reform refers to the effort on the part of the malpractice insurance industry and certain politicians to pass new laws that would limit damage awards and greatly restrict the ability of injured patients to sue health care providers. These proposals and the publicity surrounding them have made it an unfair playing field in court for victims of malpractice. Juries that have heard these false and unfair stories about medical malpractice cases are reluctant to award damages against doctors and hospitals, even in legitimate cases.