HELL YES, IT IS ILLEGAL TO GHOST-WRITE ANY ACADEMIC OR MEDICAL PAPER.

What part of that is hard to fathom? It’s a criminal conspiracy to commit fraud. It isn’t spelled out in so many words, for obvious reasons, but it’s the same as it would be for the overwhelming majority of “massage parlors.” Sure, massage is legal, but most folks don’t go off paying $150.00 for a two-hour massage, do they? Same here. Some writing services can be offered to the public in an honest and ethical way, and are indeed legitimate. In an academic, scientific, or research environment, anyone offering to help somebody create a false impression is proffering an invitation to join in a criminal conspiracy–PERIOD. There don’t have to be any more laws on the books than there are–better laws would serve the public interest–there just has to be enough motivation for somebody to take action. Up to now, this budding sleaze industry has enjoyed relative obscurity, and hence little affirmative effort to attack the malignancy it spreads. I wouldn’t invest heavily believing in the profitability of its future.