Don't know about the legalities of it, but here in the UK, my first port of call would be the Union rep!
Can understand partly how you feel though, in October, I read an advert in the local paper for MY job from January to July--and I was only 1 week away from my 'sick note' expiring!!
Hope you get some advice
Brenda

Brenda in UK--Diagnosis 30/5/07--undifferentiated carcinoma in right jawbone and muscles. Stage 4
6/7/07--new diagnosis primary is in lung. Finished 4cycles of palliative carboplatin/gemcitabine
therapy September 07
Now dying to live!