Thalidomide became an over-the-counter drug in Germany around 1960 and could be bought without a prescription. Shortly after the drug was sold, in Germany, between 5,000 and 7,000 infants were born with phocomelia. Merely 40% of these children survived.
Actress Sally Kellerman portrayed her in the Robert Altman film adaptation (where the character was renamed O'Houlihan; however, like many of the M*A*S*H* characters, Hot Lips is probably best known from the television series, where her part was played by Loretta Swit.
Sounds More Like: A sunny sixties singer who wears pink sunglasses and has daisies in her hair. M*A*S*H* (1970). The Character Name: Hot Lips O'Houlihan. Why It's Funny: Everybody in the world of M*A*S*H* gets their own nickname, and it's just Major Margaret's luck that she's lumbered with a sexiest one.