-----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,
 T22RVwTT4oSCBXPF1fsMadrXC6zpfE1F8+aVchCUSdSRYCzj7OMGSOa8EIZ8MVHM
 EzZXuVteGCKwSfDwDMnBAw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-013092.txt : 20090910
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-013092.hdr.sgml : 20090910
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090910163346
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-013092
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090910
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090910

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:		1000 BISHOPS GATE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			MOUNT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054-4632
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8568108000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 BISHOPS GATE BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			MOUNT LAUREL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08054-4632

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			O BRIEN COLIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124042

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13326
		FILM NUMBER:		091063163

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1544
		CITY:			RANCHO SANTE FE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92067
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884497</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEDQUIST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEDQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124042</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O BRIEN COLIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MEDQUIST INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1000 BISHOPS GATE BOULEVARD, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNT LAUREL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10002</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark R. Sullivan, Attorney-In-Fact for Colin O'Brien</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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