Can a juror be discharged from service if the juror has already been sworn in?

The parties have framed the issue as one involving the court's discretion to excuse a juror for personal hardship, a determination that is reviewed for abuse of discretion. (See Code Civ.Proc., 204, subd. (b); People v. Mickey, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 665, 286 Cal.Rptr. 801, 818 P.2d 84.) It seems evident, however, that the court was actually discharging the juror, who had already been sworn, rather than excusing her from service. The court has authority to discharge a juror who has been sworn under section 1089, which provides: "If at any time, whether before or after the final submission of the case to the jury, a juror dies or becomes ill, or upon other good cause shown to the court is found to be unable to perform his duty, or if a juror requests a discharge and good cause appears therefor, the court may order him to be discharged and draw the name of an alternate, who shall then take his place in the jury box...."