Catchable fatal error: Object of class MDB2_BufferedResult_mysql could not be conver

This is the first time I have used pear and a script that I am trying out is giving me a problem.

It works up to the following segment of code.

// Pull all metals out of the database
$query = 'SELECT * FROM metals ORDER BY catorder ASC;';
$result =& $mdb2->query($query);
if (PEAR::isError($result)) { die($result->getMessage()); }

If I echo $result I get the following:

Catchable fatal error: Object of class MDB2_BufferedResult_mysql could not be converted to string in /home/ukipstou/public_html/mainmetalweb/edit.php on line 38

I have been unable to find out the meaning of the error message and I am hoping someone here knows the answer, what the cause might be or a possible workaround.