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.
Hawkeye, Duke and Trapper quickly discover the tryst and have Cpl. Radar O'Reilly place a microphone under their cot and broadcast it over the public address system; everyone hears Houlihan telling Burns to Kiss my hot lips!, earning her the nickname Hot Lips.