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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Qjerw0B2axMOJf9pUM66aa3r52Ik2TCLMI/RYfDdQw1yZN/hmulP+WreN2cP57se
 b253HColWxUK9GUwl95fEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891836-03-000704.txt : 20031204
<SEC-HEADER>0000891836-03-000704.hdr.sgml : 20031204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031204173440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891836-03-000704
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARELLA HANS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001271202

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19941
		FILM NUMBER:		031038639

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BLDG QM-228
		STREET 2:		VEENPLUIS 4-6
		CITY:			BEST
		STATE:			P7
		ZIP:			5684 PC

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEDQUIST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884497
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION [7374]
		IRS NUMBER:				222531298
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FIVE GREENTREE CENTRE STE 311
		STREET 2:		STATE HIGHWAY 73 N
		CITY:			MARLTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8568108000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 GREENTREE CENTRE SUITE 311
		STREET 2:		ATTN BRUCE VAN FOSSEN
		CITY:			MARLTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08053
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sc0357-03b_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884497</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDQUIST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEDQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271202</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARELLA HANS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BLDG QM-228</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>VEENPLUIS 4-6</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>P7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>5684 PC</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>1</isOther>
         <otherText>former director</otherText>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>See Footnote 1.</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-10-01</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The Reporting Person has ceased to be a director of MedQuist Inc. as of October 1, 2003.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Hans M. Barella</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-04</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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