In an action to recover damages for medical malpractice, the defendants appeal from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Werner, J.), dated April 6, 1993, as, in dismissing the action, did so without prejudice to the commencement of a new action pursuant to CPLR 205 (a).
Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with one bill of costs payable by the appellants appearing separately and filing separate briefs.
Contrary to the defendants’ contention, the Supreme Court did not err in dismissing the action without prejudice to recommencement pursuant to the six-month extension afforded by CPLR 205 (a). CPLR 205 (a) is a remedial statute, designed to "ameliorate the potentially harsh effect of the Statute of Limitations in certain cases in which at least one of the fundamental purposes of the Statute of Limitations has in fact been served, and the defendant has been given timely notice of the claim being asserted by or on behalf of the injured party” (George v Mt. Sinai Hosp.,
