John Parsons qualified in medicine from the University of Dundee, Scotland in 1970. After house officer appointments in the National Health Service he worked for the Ministry of Overseas Development as a general medical officer in Malawi, Central Africa for three years. During this period he observed first hand the risks women will take to end an unwanted pregnancy when safe abortion is not available to them.

He then trained as an obstetrician and gynaecologist gaining membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London in 1979 and fellowship of that college in 1992.

He was appointed senior lecturer/ consultant at King’s College Hospital (NHS) in south-east London in 1986 where he directed the assisted conception unit and the hospital’s termination of pregnancy service until his retirement in March 2010. His research interests and publications have focussed on the use of ultrasound in the investigation and management of infertility, the simplification of assisted conception techniques and improving the safety of late termination of pregnancy.

After retiring he worked part time for Marie Stopes International (2010 - 2012) and BPAS (2012 - 2016) performing abortions and training other doctors to perform abortions through to the legal limit.

He was on the bpas board of trustees from 2005 – 2011. He is a trustee of Progress Educational Trust, the charity whose purpose is to raise public awareness and understanding of embryo/stem cell research, genetics and assisted conception and who publish the online news digest BioNews each week.