It could be done if it was just taken from him instead of cut in half.
If you cast your mind back a bit there was a lot of talk of seeing Dooku on the council in TPM either in the flesh or as a hologram broadcast from another world being attacked in the same way Naboo was.
What if he was the first to voice doubts about Anakin?
That would strengthen his position as a bit of a Cassandra and kick start the whole feud between Anakin and himself which would conclude in ROTS.