Guys i think we are all getting a bit too worked up over this. As Wiz says the 4 hour rule has been in the FOM for years. We can still take 2 uncertified sick days per month which is 24 days per year, that seems pretty reasonable to me. Emirates are fantastic with pilots who are long term sick so for those slagging them off just remember that.
There are a minority of people who take the Pi
big time and those are the ones this policy is aimed at.
I do agree that Ed needs to clarify the rule on going sick within the four hours will always result in you being marked absent as i feel that is totally wrong and negative to flight safety but i suspect that provided you can produce a doctors note it will not be a problem.