-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SzalyKvxjROwDbpaGkYouP2n2oQeFgEyFoqjv4+H6DkHIhM3i/tcPsxbh9/Yr+22
 vwWsd9fhzoUvotqg3g1GSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-013590.txt : 20030710
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-013590.hdr.sgml : 20030710
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030710081219
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-013590
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030709
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030710

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITRIN DEBORAH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248239

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13617
		FILM NUMBER:		03781023

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28 CLEVELAND ST
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02474

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28 CLEVELAND STREET
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02474

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIFELINE SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000720195
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				042537528
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 LAWRENCE ST
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6176791000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 LAWRENCE ST
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12919.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 DATED 7/9/03
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-09</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000720195</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIFELINE SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LIFE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248239</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CITRIN DEBORAH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>1</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText>Vice President, Marketing</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>29.755</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-09</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>7500</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>29.755</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-07-09</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2013-07-09</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>7500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>7500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Grant pursuant to 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.  Option is exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Deborah Citrin</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-10</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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