The Republican media is aflutter again. They don't want Giffords replaced in her committee assignments, in order to weaken the Democrats on those committees.
There are 2 issues: 1) Should the decision be made rationally or emotionally? It's being made emotionally, with all the name-calling, like worst person in the world.
2) Should she be replaced until she returns? I read an article saying that when you're shot in the head, it's 50-50 whether you make it to the hospital alive. If you do, it's 50-50 whether you'll be permanently impaired, vs. taking a couple of years to regain your coordination enough to think and speak clearly. So Giffords will be incapable of representing her district for at least a year.
The answers are 1) definitely yes to rationality
2) yes, but I would bow to the customs of the House.