Using sick leave to keep doctors appointments

My employer says sick leave can be used only when you wake up in the morning and realize you have fallen ill overnight. If you take a pro-active approach to your health and make an appointment to see a doctor, dentist, whatever, you cannot use sick leave for that.

So the question is not whether the employer must provide sick leave. The employer does provide sick leave but says it cannot be used to keep appointments made "in advance," whatever that means.

Is that legal? At the very least, it would seem to discriminate against women and older employees who are supposed to make appointments with doctors before they fall ill. It also makes no sense in certain contexts: If I need an eye exam because my vision has deteriorated, has my vision deteriorated overnight? Hardly. And so the whole paradigm of using sick leave only for something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly simply doesn't square with maintaining your health.

Please don't give me a stock reply. This is a nuanced question. Thanks.

Sick leave is for when you cannot get to work due to illness.

They do not have to give you medical appointment days.

You may discuss with your nearest Dept of Labor office as well.