*708The plaintiff’s failure to submit an affidavit of merit by a medical expert competent to attest to the meritorious nature of her claim to recover damages for medical malpractice requires the dismissal of the action as against the defendant hospital (see, Reed v Friedman, 117 AD2d 661; Vernon v Nassau County Med. Center, 102 AD2d 852). Kunzeman, J. P., Eiber, Sullivan and Ralletta, JJ., concur.