Warning: The post contains spoilers for The Pitt, season 2, episode 6.

The Pitt star Gerran Howell opens up about the shocking death in this week’s episode.

The actor, 34, exclusively tells PEOPLE about the lesson he learned after his character, first year resident Dr. Dennis Whitaker, deals with the loss of a longtime patient in season 2.

Episode 5 of the second season ends on a cliffhanger with Louie Cloverfield, played by Ernest Harden Jr., suddenly flatlining while being treated at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.

Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) and Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball) attempt to resuscitate Louie, who struggles with alcohol addiction and is also featured in the first season.

The next episode, which premiered Feb. 12, opens with Robby and Langdon’s attempt to save the patient’s life. However, they appear to be too late as a nurse notes that his lungs are filling up with blood.

Louie promptly dies of a pulmonary hemorrhage due to his liver failure, and Robby calls his death.

Whittaker, who had been Louie’s primary doctor, goes to check on him a few minutes later and is informed of his sudden death. He enters the hospital room, where he finds Langdon who offers his condolences. The two later pay their respects to the late patient alongside other medical staff.

While speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Howell says the storyline made him think about “how quickly things can change.”

“Life and death is a big thing in the ER, especially with Louie because he is one of our frequent flyers and has become a staple in the hospital,” the actor says. “I think everybody thought Louie was going to outlive us all.”

As for his personal takeaway, Howell continues, “I learned that you can’t get too comfortable with your patients in the ER because you just never know what’s gonna happen. There’s a boundary there. How much do you invest in people outside of caring for them medically? Because it can sometimes come back to bite you.”

Howell notes that many of the show’s episodes feature a death, saying, “That stuff never stops happening.”

The actor recalls a “particularly tough” storyline from earlier in the season, when Whittaker was treating a woman with Alzheimer’s who repeatedly forgot her husband died. “I really appreciate how The Pitt refuses to not show the nitty gritty parts of the job,” he says.

When asked how he decompresses after a day of filming intense scenes, he jokes, “I’m still in it. I can let it all out now if you like.”

More importantly, Howell adds, “I’m never gonna be a medical professional. It happens to them in real life. It would feel wrong to feel like I am burdened as much as they would ever be.”

The sophomore season also shows Whittaker demonstrating his respect for senior attending Robby by passing on his lessons to his own medical students. On the topic, Howell says Whittaker has “latched on” to Robby.

“Robby was a bit of a beacon amongst all the chaos for him,” the actor says, referencing the first season when his character was still a medical student. “After that first shift, they have this bonded thing now where obviously Robby has seen Whitaker on his worst day probably, and he’s somehow seen Robby at his lowest. I don’t think they really address it with each other, but they’re invariably bonded now through that.”

New episodes of The Pitt season 2 air Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.